This is not fair! No way is this a fair thing to happen to me! Yesterday it was 70+ degrees. Day before that it hit 80. Now this morning there is snow. Stop this madness. It is Spring. The Daffodils are blooming and everything! The ducks are mating as are the geese. Now I have Robins playing in the snow. What is wrong with this scenario?
Oh, yeah, now I remember, I live in Colorado! Beautiful Colorado in the foothills to the Rockie Mountains. Kenneth and I were on our way to a place near Durango many years ago to get a load of coal for some one. Being the end of May and hotter than the dickens, I wore my shorts and we did not bother taking a coat. The first problem we encountered was that the pass had the chain law in effect. Usually we called and checked things like that, but rarely, if ever do you worry about it when it is 80 degrees. Course there is that little altitude thing we should have thought about. A lesson learned, but not retained, although we did make it a habit to carry chains and coats no matter where we went or when we went.
See, I should have known when I met that man what I was in for. Before we ever did the "I do" thing in front of the minister in the assisted living center in Canon City and had a celebratory doughnut as our wedding supper, there were signs of the future. Take for instance, the weekend camp out and boating trip the weekend AFTER Labor Day.
We loaded the camper shell, boat, fishing tackle, lots of food, camp stove, two kids and my poodle/chihuahua, Sysnyck and headed for Turquoise Lake, about as high up as you can get without going clear to heaven. It was late when we got there so we immediately pitched the tent and went to bed. It immediately began to rain. The bathrooms were locked up, being after Labor Day and all, but it was a big forest. Morning broke to show a beautiful view of the lake, ice floes and all. Fuel had leaked out of the camp stove. Kids were wet and frozen. My bottom and the forest floor did not take to well to each other. But we had come to boat and fish and by jeepers that was what we would do. And did it we did.
The worms were frozen, but the boat was not. We boarded the seaworthy vessel and cranked it up; fishing poles remained on the bank. My stalwart Captain roared away from the dock, the dog jumped overboard, the daughter burst out in tears because she was going to die. He idled, turned around and picked up the dog and headed back to shore. We arrived home early that afternoon and it was again 80 degrees, but we were still frozen.
The year on that was 1982. Perhaps you recall that being the year there was a sudden spike in antibiotic sales? Both kids had raging fevers the next day. I am a firm believer that such things are brought on by a virus and not getting cold and wet, but I did make an exception in that case.
The following summer, July 4 weekend to be exact, we took a 3 day weekend, same boat, vacation to the high lakes in the Rockies. Kids refused to step foot off the place after the first vacation. When we got home I was so sunburned I had to sleep standing up. Not really, but it was bad! So I now know, but still occasionally forget what Colorado is all about. Check my car. I have blankets, coats, sunscreen, water, an emergency stable food source, and my Bible. I am taking no chances.
The kids are grown up and gone. Kenny has passed to his much deserved reward and I am here alone. I do still go to the mountains, but only for the day. I go with a friend or sometimes just drive up to Beulah to see my friend Jan. So I stay in Colorado. It has become home to me and I expect when I close my eyes and see Kenny coming to pick me up, his silhouette will be against the back drop of Pikes Peak or Turquoise Lake or something else quite as beautiful. When that happens I will not look back. And I expect you all to be happy and wish me bon voyage! Cause I will be tripping the light fantastic with a man who never had a lick of rythym any where near his body, but he could catch a fish.
Oh, yeah, now I remember, I live in Colorado! Beautiful Colorado in the foothills to the Rockie Mountains. Kenneth and I were on our way to a place near Durango many years ago to get a load of coal for some one. Being the end of May and hotter than the dickens, I wore my shorts and we did not bother taking a coat. The first problem we encountered was that the pass had the chain law in effect. Usually we called and checked things like that, but rarely, if ever do you worry about it when it is 80 degrees. Course there is that little altitude thing we should have thought about. A lesson learned, but not retained, although we did make it a habit to carry chains and coats no matter where we went or when we went.
See, I should have known when I met that man what I was in for. Before we ever did the "I do" thing in front of the minister in the assisted living center in Canon City and had a celebratory doughnut as our wedding supper, there were signs of the future. Take for instance, the weekend camp out and boating trip the weekend AFTER Labor Day.
We loaded the camper shell, boat, fishing tackle, lots of food, camp stove, two kids and my poodle/chihuahua, Sysnyck and headed for Turquoise Lake, about as high up as you can get without going clear to heaven. It was late when we got there so we immediately pitched the tent and went to bed. It immediately began to rain. The bathrooms were locked up, being after Labor Day and all, but it was a big forest. Morning broke to show a beautiful view of the lake, ice floes and all. Fuel had leaked out of the camp stove. Kids were wet and frozen. My bottom and the forest floor did not take to well to each other. But we had come to boat and fish and by jeepers that was what we would do. And did it we did.
The worms were frozen, but the boat was not. We boarded the seaworthy vessel and cranked it up; fishing poles remained on the bank. My stalwart Captain roared away from the dock, the dog jumped overboard, the daughter burst out in tears because she was going to die. He idled, turned around and picked up the dog and headed back to shore. We arrived home early that afternoon and it was again 80 degrees, but we were still frozen.
The year on that was 1982. Perhaps you recall that being the year there was a sudden spike in antibiotic sales? Both kids had raging fevers the next day. I am a firm believer that such things are brought on by a virus and not getting cold and wet, but I did make an exception in that case.
The following summer, July 4 weekend to be exact, we took a 3 day weekend, same boat, vacation to the high lakes in the Rockies. Kids refused to step foot off the place after the first vacation. When we got home I was so sunburned I had to sleep standing up. Not really, but it was bad! So I now know, but still occasionally forget what Colorado is all about. Check my car. I have blankets, coats, sunscreen, water, an emergency stable food source, and my Bible. I am taking no chances.
The kids are grown up and gone. Kenny has passed to his much deserved reward and I am here alone. I do still go to the mountains, but only for the day. I go with a friend or sometimes just drive up to Beulah to see my friend Jan. So I stay in Colorado. It has become home to me and I expect when I close my eyes and see Kenny coming to pick me up, his silhouette will be against the back drop of Pikes Peak or Turquoise Lake or something else quite as beautiful. When that happens I will not look back. And I expect you all to be happy and wish me bon voyage! Cause I will be tripping the light fantastic with a man who never had a lick of rythym any where near his body, but he could catch a fish.
