I have a new respect for the women of the 1800’s who ventured out west in unchartered territory with their husbands and children to make a new home for themselves. Judging by my first few days on the road from the South to the Pacific Northwest, I would not have made it. And neither would my family.

With this post, I am not suggesting in any way that my circumstances are similar to the conditions of the mid 1800’s, but when we’re driving 2700 miles across 12 states in five days with temperatures ranging from the mid 80’s to the low 30’s and the terrain is changing from flat pains to rolling hills to snowy mountains, I can’t help but identify with the woman who did this so long ago without the conveniences I have today.

I don’t think I would have made it into the inner circles of pioneer women. Pioneer women knew how to dress for the months ahead. They would not have brought along one pair of flip flops because for themselves or their child because they would have known it would get hold. They would not have shipped all of their winter clothes along to their final destination and packed only t-shirts for their husbands because they would have anticipated how cold it would get at night and in the morning.

At the end of each day, I knew that I and my family would be resting our heads on a pillow in a hotel or a friend’s home, but the pioneer women then had no such confidence. They made camp in open space after traveling all day in a wagon. And speaking of wagons, they or their menfolk would have known how to fix a wagon wheel that broke because it was their only means of transportation…other than walking. Our car was not so fortunate. It died a slow death in Tulsa, Oklahoma. But we weren’t stranded for long. We hopped in a rental car and were on our way.

We’re towards the end of the physical journey out West, but I don’t imagine that the adventure is close to being over. We may be moving out for a new job, but I cannot wait to see what lies over the horizon.

I don't know...maybe with mentoring from a strong pioneer woman, I would have made it.