That first long, cold night continues

Current news update:
Home from the trip to the big city

As usual, our venture out of the canyon was too short to complete the errand list. No alternative energy store visits and the big Bobcat dealer was closed on Saturdays! But it was great to see our old friends again and be filled with their great comfort foods (read as serious 'fart food' however) and catch up on nearly a year's worth of news. Stalwart souls that they are, they readily threw open the doors to our short notice arrival despite the same day news that their septic system had literally gone to crap and that septic system contractors had threatened to cut down more of the trees that had survived last year's conifer devastation. We took the vehicle update tour, the grounds update tour and related some of our homestead tales to date. I managed to hit one resale shop and experience that now rare treasure find rush before we had to load up the 500 gallon water tank which they had donated to the cause before heading home.

Also as usual, we missed our departure envelope to be able to drive all the way back home in daylight. In fact, the sun set just as we entered the tricky dirt roads. The rains had left them about as smooth as railroad tracks. Mark drove and I leaned well forward (like that would really help), peering out the window and giving warnings when I saw really deep water-cut cross ruts and other hazards. The few hazards that I missed sent us and everything else in the truck leaping upward and slamming back down. After a few of those surprise whoopty-kitties, we noticed that the huge tank was now a loose cannon and threatening the new truck's paint job. After a session of grunting and tugging at the loose tie-down straps, we were able to resume the drive. A deer caused a sharp inhalation moment as it dashed out in front of us. Three of its companions hung close to the road, contemplating the same tactic. Even at these crawling speeds, the miles went by mercifully fast and we stopped by the kindly neighbors to relieve them of the puppy. Relieve is probably the most accurate word to use, too. Apparently this furry dynamo spent the greater part of the first day barking at anything unfamiliar - which was EVERYTHING - and running incessant circles around the house. He shimmied and piddled gratefully when he realized that we hadn't abandoned him and we all stuffed back into the cab to make the last leg of the homebound trip. The big wash and the creek bed were firm and not too deeply rutted and the rat trailer came into view before long. The cats had obviously enjoyed the puppy-free vacation and we were very content to finally return to our quiet valley below the star-heavy skies. The photo above shows a small sampling of the views we encountered on the way home.

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Retrospect
November 15^th, 2005

That first long, cold night - part 3

With the function of ‘dining’ taken care of, we now considered what to do for the remainder of what was obviously going to be the longest evening of the year for us. Barely one month prior, we would have been finishing up a very full and pleasant meal and conversation. Then Mark would retire to his library to read. It was a real library, the sort with wall-encompassing oak bookcases, an oak roll-top desk, burgundy leather wing chairs, heavy drapes festooned around a massive bay window, sedate and restful teal walls and an oak floor. It expressed a scholarly and dignified domain which many lawyers try to capture in their office suites – and usually fail. Peripherally, I could now see Mark rifling through his attaché for something - anything - to read and I could feel his mounting sense of sanctuary loss. I emitted a quiet chuckle as I recalled the reaction of a U.K. cousin when we announced our relocation plans. He, too, had spent many enjoyable hours with us in that library. After a pause, he replied “Well, I hope this doesn’t sound too indelicate but …are you absolutely out of your bloody minds?!!”

With at least eight more hours before the return of natural light and the vague promise of a little solar heat, this was as good a time to reflect on his observation as any. There are many people who live for an occasional retreat into the wilderness. Most are satisfied with the break but appreciate a return to civilized conveniences. Some will retain a longing for that solitude and daydream of making it permanent. Few, however, will actually make it happen. What was it that made us take that perilous path less traveled? Those who cared for us certainly wanted to know. Perhaps there were silent questions like “Was there some way in which we failed you?”

To be continued in a day or two (if the creek don't rise).

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Quote of the day:

Jay Leno: There've been huge protests in the Muslim world over anti-Muslim comments made by Pope Benedict. Today the pope apologized, saying he never should have gone drinking with Mel Gibson.