I rambled for nearly an hour, "wingin' it," as some say.

Basically, it could have been summed up this way - "I feel like I have been blessed beyond measure to have been raised in Wyoming by the parents I was given. And doubly blessed to have been able to stay here, doing what I love to do."

Two events in a span of six days dramatically emphasized those points.

First, we attended a wedding reception with about 100 other folks. It was what I refer to as a "homemade" reception, but that only means that it was the best possible kind.

I have attended wedding receptions of all kinds in a variety of places, from multi-star resorts to exotic destination locations.

I've sipped champagne with strawberries oceanside; enjoyed tuxedoed-butler passed hors d'oeuvres and have been seated at tables set with more glassware than I own.

But this reception was one of the best. The food in white roasters was delicious - barbecued beef, beans and "wedding salads" - spaghetti, whipped cream and fruity; and pistachio pudding and fruity.

The groom kept saying that they wanted to keep it "simple." It was lovely, and so much fun. And we danced in the room with rough-hewn logs on the walls, chaperoned by multiple animal heads gazing down on us.

We toasted and tried to figure out who the guests "belonged to," although the friend knew all of the law enforcement people there. And he actually introduced me to guys he's known for a long time - and when that happens, it makes me thrilled.

One jolly soul came out to meet me on the dance floor and said, "Funny, I thought he was dating ……," and I just busted out laughing.

Six nights later, we headed down I-25 once again, this time headed for a "speaking" engagement in Guernsey at the Lions Club's parent/child dinner.

The friend was the chauffeur and the cookbook "handler."

A crowd of about 40 turned up in the sanctuary of a log cabin church. Many I have met previously and some I met for the first time. Friends from Wheatland chose to come over to "watch me talk," instead of going to the Douglas-Wheatland rivalry basketball game. I still don't understand their decision.

The meal was home-cooked, fork-tender chicken fried steak, the best I've ever had, real mashed potatoes and real gravy, along with vegetables, salad, homemade rolls and dessert. The cooks wanted to charge $8 per person but club members gave them $10 a plate. It was an unbelievable bargain.

Guests included students in the National Guard's ChalleNGe program in Guernsey, as well as daughters, granddaughters and sons of Lions Club members.

Since teens and younger are usually not part of audiences when groups ask me to speak, I thought maybe I shouldn't wing it. So I had a folder of stuff I've written that I thought I might read.

But my "short introduction" took nearly an hour.

The older folks wanted to hear about Fritz, so I talked a lot about being raised in Laramie as the coach's daughter and I only cried a couple of times.

Then I talked about my 30 years at the Star-Tribune and then I talked about my kids.

And then I talked about my love for Wyoming and its people and Cowboy football. And I cried again.

But I also had them laughing, and the friend as my comic sidekick was a new and welcome addition.

Less than five hours after we departed, we were back home, having talked every mile of the drive both ways while sharing brownies and cookies we lifted from the dessert table.

In Wyoming, life is very, very good.

And I am blessed.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com. Read Sal's blog at trib.com/blog