As Far As The Eye Can See

I will post you pictures, fer shure, but since this is Neena & Don's computer, I'm not about uploading my pics here. And anyway, there is always something about the big open out here in the west that defies encapsulation on these bitty screens.  It had been waaaay too long (March of 2005) since I crossed the Mississippi.  There is something about the people, the landscape and most definitely the air and light that lets me truly breathe for what seems like the first time in a long, heavy while.

Things come clear, and suddenly that which was murky and uncertain is outlined with an exacto blade.  Now I know that some of this is the pure water of travel after a desert of absence, but still...thought I knew how much I needed this but I was wrong.  If you read me here somehow back in the muck, kindly smack me upside the travel head, 'K? right.

As I type this, am overlooking the Cedar Mountains and the valley outside Cedar City with I-15 winding away off south toward Arizona in the distance.  Neena & Don have toddled off to work leaving me to watch the sun come up over the mountains and the sky to fill with that high, aching blue.  If I look out the opposite window, I see the side of the gulch the house sits in and the flared-out icicles off the edge of their mudroom.  Must be above freezing since the drips are visible.  The sun is so bright, the air so clear that the shadow of the house on the snow really IS blue. 

If you doubt that the universe (the Tao, the what-ev-ah) has a sense of humor, well you see, I'd been asking for clarity...careful what you ask for when you're talking to a wiseass, eh? And Edge? you were so right. And how in hell can you sit out there knowing that this was only a short plane ride away??? am so totally hooked. plotting ways to manage living in two, maybe three places again.

To cut to the much abridged travel/knitting narrative,  Margene kindly picked me up at Salt Lake City airport on Friday since Neena got stuck in her driveway (can you say vertical incline?) due to a freak blizzard.  I spotted her tall, graceful self instantly since she was wrapped in what could only be Seaweed. M and the wonderful Smith, her husband, opened home and hugs to this 3D stranger.  Talk about above and beyond the call of hospitality, Margene endured the 3 am doorbell of the Delta baggage delivery person.  Reminder to self:  avoid travel during mercury retrogrades. Delta ate my luggage and wasn't any too apologetic or customer friendly about it. My wonderful hosts indulged me by trekking to Mexican food restaurants (O frabjous, happy palate), knit store enablement (alpaca, zen colors on sale, lovely books), sporting good store shopping for ski gear, and best of all, breakfast up at the Silver Fork Lodge with my homegrrl, Laurie.  Despite another mini-blizzard, Neena and I then peeled off to go skiing at Solitude, a ski resort a bit further up Big Cottonwood Canyon from the Silver Fork.   

Knitting?  I am unreasonably pleased with myself for knitting up a ski hat from cashmerino aran and GGH Kid Soft in black and red to match my unwittingly cool ski jacket.  and I may never take it off because Margene seamed it up for me... just sayin'...

Nuff for now. I'll add links later and fill in the blanks.  Gotta go exploring, including Brian Head ski area.  Oh. And whatever pics Neena has posted of her home pale before seeing it in person.  Am seriously re-thinking my aversion to new construction.

um. grant me the above exuberance. It's been a while...

Comments

[margene]

Very happy to see you survived a day on the slopes. It was more than wonderful to meet you face to face. There are few homes as fine and inviting as Neena's. It's beautiful, warm and full of fun. Enjoy your week!

[Edge]

above exuberance granted and I hate that I'm not there

[Neena]

Ahem. By the way, I'm a BOARDER.

P.S. As you know, you are welcome to the hectare ANYTIME.

[Ellen]

Sounds like the perfect vacation! So happy you are having a grand time and that you are getting clarity. Makes me think I need to take a vacation soon....