The Not So Lost Summer
It is mid-August and I have not been out of town. How is that for a rambling Colorado native? My broken ribs are healing, Carol’s complicated cataract removal is slowly healing. Neither one of us is supposed to lift, I can’t bounce four wheeling, and Carol is not supposed to bend over. Life under those conditions is a bit difficult. So, no traveling.
Frustration sums up my mood. The frustration has slipped into irritability, insomnia, and advanced cabin fever. Life is not entirely wasted, however. Reading is difficult for Carol, so I have read six novels aloud. I enjoy that,and so does Carol. We have seen some movies, mostly bad, and I am at the point where I can follow the plot lines of her TV programs.
This week I put up a post on www.dofbill.com about the Bookcliffs in western Colorado and eastern Utah. Writing the post required me to do a lot of reading about Colorado Plateau geology, maybe my first love. Growing up in Fruita and wondering how that elevated horizon in every direction got there inspired the seeker in me to learn why? I am still learning.
So, you are going to get more geology to read about if you can stand it. Don’t worry, I will only go back about 1.8 billion years. From the Grand Canyon to Vernal, Utah is a mostly complete record in stone (and mud) of American geologic history.
The summer hasn’t been lost, but I sure do have the itch to go WEST. I may also be flying to New York and driving a car back. I love solo road trips. Time to think, see, and eat bad food. Carol’s daughter is hitting the big five oh, and there is a celebration at the Broadmoor coming up. I am also trying to decide if I am going to my 55th high school reunion during the Fruita Harvest Festival. It should be fun, but I have had too many reminders about how old I am this year.
After putting that limited slip differential in my Toyota, I have been on one four wheeling short drive and didn’t get a chance to try it out on the fairly good roads. The Bookcliffs area is mostly shale that turns to the slickest mud in North America when wet. I can’t wait.
I have a crossover tool box in the bed of the Toy that is filled with recovery gear. Two sets of tire chains, tow chain, tow strap, come-along, shovel axe, saw, high-lift jack,tools, and enough stuff to keep me alive if I end up stuck somewhere. All that stuff is so heavy it has damaged the aluminum toolbox. I have propped it up with a couple of 4x4s until I can lift all that stuff out and get the toolbox replaced. No lifting, remember? I’m glad the toolbox has a lifetime warranty. I wish I did.
Happy
Life is OK. The cabin fever with a sore back has brought me down more than it should have. The Buddhists make a distinction between pain and suffering. I let the pain of an injury go into suffering. While I was suffering, life was really pretty good. It’s all about how you look at it, and I was looking at the dark side.