December 4, 2004; Clinton Presidential Library

I awoke again with a frosty sleeping bag again this morning. My attempts to keep the frost off with the tarp only ended up trapping the moisture from my breath and making everything wet. After three nights and one wet day in the stuff sack, my sleeping bag smelled like a wet dog. I dried it completely with the hand blower while showering in the visitor center bathroom again.

I arrived in Little Rock at 2:30. Didn't know were the Clinton Library was, only what it looked like. Drove to it like I knew where it was- that doesn't happen often. Even when I do know where I am going.

Looking at all of the national and world events, all the politics made me realize how little I knew about the time in which I lived. I don't read the paper or watch the news regularly, but I thought I had been more up on things than I was. I stood there contemplating my historical deficiency when it dawned on me. I didn't care then, and I don't really care now. Sure, there were millions of people who were profoundly affected by Clinton's Presidency, but my life didn't change a whole lot either way. It was just consistently good. I know, Unsympathetic and shallow.

Isn't that the way it goes for all of us though? I know I have a tendency to remember the bad more than the good. It's quicker to train a dog using negative reinforcement, not necessarily better, but quicker. If someone receives bad service it is said that they will tell everybody they know, and if they receive great service, they may tell one or two people. The experience reminded me to keep accentuating the positive as I travel, and not get hung up on the negative- like bad weather.

From Little Rock it was on to Hot Springs. I was told it was the only other thing in Arkansas to see. An exaggeration I am sure, but it will make a good stopping point for the night.