When It’s Time to Head to the Big Sky and the Grassy Plains

Mymind and body crave air, wide spaces, big sky. So we go, the kids and I. We go to where the wind rushes loud in our ears and where our hair blows tangled. Where the sun sets hot andgrasshopperspingoff our legs and caterpillars munch milkweed into kaleidoscope designs.

We go to the grassy plains.

I press the pedal close to the floor as soon as the Capitol fades blurry in the rearview mirror and roll down the windows, wind whipping, boys laughing. When we arrive the preserve is empty, save o...