Our internal clocks have been steadily
waking us up earlier and earlier, although the alarms on our individual body
clocks are set for different times. I usually wake up before the sun is up and
since I don’t see any point in getting out of bed when it’s still dark, I just
stay in bed where it’s warm until Kim wakes up.
By that time the sun is peeking over Picacho Mountain, signaling it’s
time to get up. Of course, if he stays up to the wee hours of the morning, I’ll
haul my butt out of bed when it’s light out and leave him sleeping.
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We are now three hours behind Michigan time
because Arizona doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time. That extra hour difference is not a big deal
right now, but it will be when we head home.
We’ll cross that time travel bridge when we come to it. I will say there
is an extra adjustment to be made if we want to call someone back home, send a
text, etc.
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After taking a walk this morning, we decided
to ride to Gu-Atchi Trading Post for some nachos. We left the back ramp down because
it was calm and there was no rain predicted.
By the time we stopped for gas, the wind was really picking up…to the
point where dirt was blowing in the air. Kim wanted to know if I was rethinking
a ride because of the wind…no, I was rethinking the decision to leave the ramp
down. Did not want the inside of the camper to be covered in dust…well, anymore
than it usually is, that is. Expecting life to be dirt or dust free while
camping in the desert is a lesson in futility, but there are ways to lessen the
amount of dust. Putting the ramp up in one of those ways. Thankfully, the wind
and dust weren’t an issue at the campground.
We continued on our ride and yes, the wind
was against us until we turned onto IR 15, then it was more from the side. The
wind was constant but not the worst we’ve ridden in. We’d get a short reprieve
when riding along a row of mesquite trees but then once we cleared the trees,
the wind was right back at us. It wasn’t as intense on the return trip because
it was pushing us from behind.
Sometimes it’s hard to discern if a cloud of
dust in the distance is the work of the wind or of a tractor working up the soil.
Today there was no doubt about the cause of the high, swirling plumes of dust…besides
there aren’t many plowed fields on the reservation that I’ve seen. So many dust devils today. And I’m
starting to think that a low hanging haziness along the horizon is the norm
these days. At one point, I could see a cloud of dirt blowing across the road
in front of us; it was a little disconcerting, knowing that we had to ride
through it. Part of the riding gig is experiencing nature, but I wasn’t looking
forward to being pelted by dirt. It cleared just as we reached it. So very grateful
for that!! But despite the wind and dust, it was a good ride.
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The grandparents, Tina and Wayne, who had
their grandson Oliver out by the telescope the other night came over this evening
to pick up the picture Kim had printed of the Orion Nebula. He also gave them a
thumb drive which contained pictures that he’s taken while out here. Wayne and Tina are Canadians who are leaving
on Sunday to head back home. We had a few moments of shared dismay at the games
our governments are playing right now and how that might impact Canadian travel
in the future. Seems to me that Canadian snowbirds pour money into the U.S. economy
when they visit and that’s not something to sneeze at.
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Once again, the sky is cloudy so Kim isn’t
able to image. He wants to gather more data on the Dolphin Head that he started
last night; by the look of the forecast, it might be a couple of nights before
he can get back at it.
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Today can’t go by without mentioning Jeff as
it’s been 15 years since he died. It seems beyond possible that it could be
that many years, but here we are. During
his last hospital stay, he told me he wanted it to be kept small, just me, the
boys and parents. Then he said that that wasn’t going to work so there could be
more people. I didn’t know what he was talking about at that point; however, it
was his insistence that I, not anyone else, choose the music because I’d know
the right song to pick, that made me realize he was talking about his funeral. What
the hell?! At that moment, I wasn’t concerned about finding the right song
because I thought he was going to beat cancer. Five days later when it became obvious that he
wasn’t going to beat it, I started worrying about the song. Choosing the right
song had suddenly become very important to me. It wasn’t until we started planning the
celebration of his life that it came to me: He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. The boys agreed that the title and lyrics of
that song epitomized Jeff, so we went with it. That’s why I picked
that song title for today’s journal entry. Usually, I don’t consider the lyrics
when picking a title for the day’s thoughts, but I do preview them to make sure
they meet my standards. This is one of
the few times that it’s not just the title but also the lyrics that are
relevant. Here’s an excerpt of the song…feel free to sing along:
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
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