It was my morning to take Sarah to school and it never ceases to amaze me the diverse areas I drive thru in a mere 8 miles. I start out in about as much of a suburban housing development you can get. White fences, Chrysler Mini Vans and a plethora of Honda Accords with Moms standing on corners with kids waiting for the bus. Venture outside the development and your surrounded by bean fields in almost 360 degrees. Move on down the road and it's industrial parks, light factory and warehouses. Stop, look and listen at the tracks! There is a rail switching yard on one side and a cement batch plant in full operation on the other. Get on the state route and it's cafe's, doctors, God, groceries and gas. Up the road some more you surrounded once again by massive development and suburban sprawl. New homes going up faster than the interest rates change from one week to the next. Further up the road are some massive fields again, beans, corn and alfalfa ready for harvest. More houses, farms and people all mixed together.

8 Miles. For much of that ride, I have the sunrise peeking up off my starboard side of the car. A few days ago I saw one of the most incredible sunrises I have been witness to in many years. One of those mornings where the humidity is nil and the sun is a perfect orange orb coming up over the horizon making the sky blue, orange, red and purple at the same time. I didn't have a camera and while I didn't get the shot, it remains seared in my mind. I stopped on this dead end road near my house, to drink my coffee and enjoy this show.

Its amazing what you see in a mere 8 miles, you just need to open your eyes!