Now it can be told.

By now, we’re on a flight heading back to Hawaii after spending most of the week in Oklahoma. We decided not to say anything until we got home for “security” reasons.

I can hear you now. Oklahoma?

Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.
Where the waving wheat can sure smell sweet
when the wind comes right behind the rain.
Oklahoma, every night my honey-lamb and I
sit along and talk, and watch a hawk making lazy
circles in the sky.

Meda spent the front part of the week doing a series of lectures at Oklahoma University in Norman, just 20 miles or so south of Oklahoma City.

Then, on Thursday, we set off on an adventure–a visit to the little town of Woodward, some 170 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. Meda was born in Woodward when her dad was working as a geologist for Magnolia Petroleum in the post-WWII period. When she was just a few months old, the northern half of the city was destroyed by a tornado that ripped a path 1.8 miles across all the way up from Texas. The family’s home was destroyed and both Meda and her mom were lucky to have survived. Her parents moved not too long after the tornado, and she has never been back. Until now.

Remember: Oklahoma is the reddest of states. By one account, all 77 counties went for McCain in 2008. So we were wary.

But I have to report that our actual experience was quite positive. University of Oklahoma is a huge campus, sprawling far and wide with what they refer to as “Oklahoma gothic” architecture. The campus has its own art museum and museum of natural history, both impressive as heck.

Two words. Oil money.

But everyone we met along the way, including in small town Woodward, was friendly and helpful.

Meda’s main lecture got a front page preview in the independent student newspaper, as did

our drive up to Woodward

.

I won’t have time to spell it all out right now, with a 6:50 a.m. flight out of Oklahoma City. But here is a quick-and-dirty bunch of photos that I sent to Meda’s sister. Some of the captions reflect that narrow focus, but I’m sure you’ll be able to cope.

I should be back online tomorrow as normal.