Though a previous blog documents my initial visit to this monument, it is always refreshing to see something through the eyes and senses of another. Also, when your head is not inundated with the fear that your life will completely fall apart if you don't tread lightly, things just appear brighter. I think God is making a concerted effort to show me that things are greener on the other side. Healing does not seem such a constant effort anymore. Granted, the dreams or memories can lead to an instant case of sadness, but those moments are rare and less powerful.
Mom commented that I laugh at her quite a bit. My comeback was that I laugh at everyone and I hadn't laughed for three years. It is a very good sign.
One thing I did miss during my previous visit was the sculptor's studio. It was the one location mom was really interested in viewing, so down and up the 40 stairs we trudged. It was a superb choice. The original model of the monument was visible and quite intriguing. Gutzon Borglum had intended to complete Lincoln's face and bring the entire image down to the torso. As the blasting and carving proceeded, it became clear that the rock could not sustain such intrusions. During the moments before the lighting ceremony, a mountain goat climbed around the rocks and rubble just under the presidents, offering pre-show entertainment for the crowd. Amazingly, it never faltered as it jumped, scratched, pawed and rolled through the terrain. The real trick was trying to spot the goat after it roamed behind a rock outcropping or a clump of trees. There was a reason to have those binoculars after all.
As time advanced and the beginning of the lighting ceremony approached, God pulled out His watercolors and decorated the canvas before our very eyes. 
The Ranger presentation and lighting ceremony was meaningful, informative and relevant. It was a lovely day!
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