Day 14 Thursday January 28 Layover Day at Boulder Canyon

Wilderness.  Wild

Wild like New York City. La. Tokyo. Paris. San Paulo. Mumbai.

Wilderness. Wild.

Wild like the rough rocks of the Grand Canyon. The Peaks of the Himalayas. The Pacific Ocean. The Outback of Australia.

Wilderness. Wild.

Thoughts in my head run like mustangs through synapses and circuits.

…

Surrounded by beauty in its natural form and fart jokes in their crudest of terms – I am faced with the ultimate question – What am I doing here?

Buddha became enlightened beneath a tree, next to a river.

I wonder if I could so the same under a cactus beside a creek…?

…

Tik Tik-tik Tik Tik Tik-tik-tik

Rain again, yet this time softer,

warmer, a little more friendly

Green eyes stare at me from

under the midd

Green eyes of the budding grass and

            seedlings sprouting from all the moisture

One drop at a time lingers on the

            edge of the nylon

Slipping off, it falls and seeps into

            the ground, soaked

Laughter comes from the kitchen area

            low voices from the tent behind

            soft breathing and the occasional

            page turning from the sleeping bag

            next to me

What a glorious life we live

Each mind for itself

Each heart open wide

Every soul as one

Join hands and raise your

            heads –

Let’s howl at the moon

            in raucous, joyous wonder

…

PM After dinner…

Mac and cheese, around the fire after the desert rain storm. Earlier I got the hair-brained idea to go for a swim and persuaded Jane to come with me. We both stripped and waded, naked, into the frigid water. Splashing my face and back, dunking my hair I finally submerged myself. Nose plugged, eyes squeezed shut, breath held, I let the water wash over me.

Screaming with delight and gasping for air I waded to the surface and hopped to the rock. Giggling we stood there, not shivering. The air felt warm and almost balmy. I said, “I’m going in again, once more for good measure – round two ­­– this one’s for my dad!” Holding my breath, I dunked.

Getting out and drying off – just then it started to drizzle and then pour! What an experience! My hair feels like hair and I feel like a whole new woman!