Weirdness?- August 19

I write to you from Torrington, Wyoming - where I once again find myself in a weird situation. Trying to find the best motel rate/bargain (no surprise to any of you, I'm sure), I phoned all that were listed in the tourist brochure for Torrington, where I am staying tonight after having visited two Presbyterian churches in the area. I had a choice of Gramma's Motel, America's Best Value, and Days Inn. Gramma's was cheapest, at $51. Bargain - maybe too much of a bargain. America's Best gave me a "special rate" of $82.50. OK, but still too pricey for me. The Days Inn phone was answered by a person with an Indian accent (no surprise) who offered me a special rate of $60. I took it.This afternoon I arrived at the motel, which does indeed  have half of a Days Inn sign in front of it. But the motel has no other signage, and it was completely deserted. It's a big motel  - at least 100 rooms.  No one  was at the desk in the deserted lobby. There was a phone that said dial zero to get an attendant. I did; the  phone rang; no one came. I waited. I decided to leave. As I got in my car, an Indian woman came out and urged me, I think, to come back in. She promised to show me a room. She did; it is indeed a nice room. The problem is: I am the only person in the motel. The huge parking lot is completely empty. There are new mattresses stacked in the lobby and the  hallways. So, after going to a community dinner (pay what you can - a dinner given each week by a local restaurant that is supported by the town churches; it was the Presbyterians' time  this week, so I went to assist as a waiter), I returned to the motel and have carefully locked myself in my room. Internet does work. The  room is nice. The place is beyond spooky.

But, on the good side, my nice picture window faces the railroad track - the  same one I observed in Moorcroft and Gillette. I did have opportunity while  staring out of the window  to count the cars on a fully loaded coal train as it passed by. There were 130 cars. And these trains pass by about every 20 minutes; loaded cars going out, empty cars coming back. I just thought you'd like to know.

My drive this morning from Moorcroft to Torrington  (on the eastern edge of Wyoming) was beautiful. Indeed, I would say that I have never seen more beautiful country-side. People say it's boring. It is not. It is empty (like the motel). I saw only cows for over 80 miles. But the landscape is interesting: rolling hills, devoid of trees, unless they are planted by a remote ranch house, or along a creek bed. There are often interesting rock formations or butes. I was never bored. I set my cruse  control on 65 and  never moved it. 

The Presbyterian churches in Torrington and Lingle (a very small town nearby) are served by the same pastor, an interim pastor who has inherited a difficult situation. Both churches took a vote on whether to remain in the PCUSA, Withdrawing from the denomination  requires several steps - the first being a congregational vote . Those supporting withdrawal must win a super-majorityof 65%. In both of these churches, the loyalists narrowly won. The result has been the withdrawal of many individual members of these two churches, some to join more conservative denominations, other simply to non-activity. Both churches, under an able pastor, are trying  to rebuild and recover. Splits like this are always very disruptive and  painful.