One of my favorite places on earth is in North Dakota. I’ve only been to the sacred spot twice. The trips were separated by 13 years. The refreshingly open Badlands landscape had hardly changed and was comfortably familiar. But it wasn’t just the view that I came back for. It was the silence. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been enveloped by both grandeur and solitude so complete. There were no cars speeding by on highways. No clanging of factory or construction machinery. There weren’t even planes flying overhead. It was remarkable. Read more…