In the morning, I picked up my co-conspirators, whom I had not seen for 3 decades, at their hotel. Gerhard, who now lives in Ulm, Germany, had to see Ulm, Montana, so that was our first of many photo stops. Foreground to back: Nagel, Gerhard, Beak.
Then, finally, we were headed for Swanee's little house on the prairie. The story Nagel had concocted was that he and Beak had encountered a problem with their rental car in Great Falls, and were being "shuttled" to Swanee's house by van. I was "the driver" from the rental agency. Gerhard, a great runner, we set out on the prairie 10 km. short of the house, to arrive by foot later.
and I waited in the van like a good driver while Swanee, Nagel, and Beak reunited. Then Nagel asks Swanee if "the driver" could use the bathroom. I nod hello, go into the bathroom, come out to the kitchen, where the reunited friends are toasting each other in German. They invite me to have a beer, after initial demurral I accept, pretending to be puzzled by the German phrases....and then finally 'fess up: "Kennst du mich denn nicht, Swanee?" He is properly astounded that the driver is Mist Mann, and we all have a merry round of drinks, looking out his window on the prairie, where.....oh my god, what is THAT? A jogger in the midst of nowhere, who then comes in the kitchen door.....and our reunion is complete.
