Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Seasonal and Other Changes












Tonight is the Winter Solstice; the longest night. It is really my only holiday of the year. It is the beginning of the new year for me, a time when the sun starts to shine more and more. This year has brought a lot of changes with it, mostly within myself.


It has been almost 4 months since I have posted anything. There are lots of reasons. Recreation has been limited by money. Even I am feeling the pinch of the economy in a field in which I should not. Recreation has also been limited by time. It seems there is never enough. But mostly it has been limited by my health. Nothing horrid, but enough to keep me feeling down. After my surgery in March it took me a long time to recover, mostly due to hormone changes. I did not start feeling normal until sometime in August. Also, after my surgery I started to have a lot of pain in my right knee (I think they twisted it when I was unconscious). I have had a bum left knee for quite a few years due to a nasty ski accident, but it was never enough to really slow me down. But the right one messed me up. I have done very little hiking this summer. Chronic pain changes the whole game of life. My autoimmune issues have been a problem as well, but I am getting those under control, mostly with diet.

But.....fifteen days ago I had arthroscopic surgery on both knees. HOLY CRAP WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!! I was coming home from work in complete agony. I feel amazing!!!!! The surgery was a piece of cake. Anyway, because of the new season (and the new lease on my knees) I have been looking ahead to the future and looking back at the past.


I am on the cusp of turning 47. There are some things that I really want to do. I want to go to Alaska, I want to climb Mt. Rainier, I want to visit the Arctic on the summer solstice, I want to spend the night in the red rocks of Utah, I want to paddle in the Everglades, I want to visit a tropical rain forest, I want to do another backpacking trip in Colorado, I want to ski into the backcountry by myself in the winter and spend a couple of nights in a snow cave, I want to see the waterfalls of Havasupai.


But I am also looking back. Walter's mom, Ruby, died on December 31st, almost a year ago. She was my first poodle, the one who forced me to love the breed. That sucked because it was unexpected and horrid. But I got to paddle on FDR lake, sleep on the beach at Priest Lake, spend the summer solstice on the water with my buddy Walter, paddle down the Flathead River with Nancy and Walter, visit Glacier National Park on a whim, and spend time at Jean's cabin on Priest Lake in October.


I also acquired a new friend this year. After Walter's mother died I started thinking about Walter being the next generation to go. I have never bonded with another creature the way I have with Walter. It is sort of spooky how we can read each other's thoughts. We just really click. I think a big part is that I kept him inside of my shirt the first 72 hours of his life and fed him from a bottle and rubbed his tummy with a damp washcloth to get him to pee and poo. After dodging phone calls for 3 months about a homeless poodle puppy, I finally gave in. His name is Arlo. He is going to be close to 100 pounds when he is done growing. Walter can walk under him. I am going to need a bigger canoe.


My main trip this fall was our yearly pilgrimage to the cabin at Priest Lake. It is really heaven for us both. We took Walter, Elliot, and Arlo. Since Arlo is still a pesky puppy we took his crate along and lots of chew toys. We took some walks but mostly just read and slept. I do not have the energy that I had last year. I am hoping to get it back soon, though. Walter and I have a camping trip planned for January so I gotta get some fast mojo. Anyway, here are some pics from various things this fall. Happy New Year!





The boys on the dock






Chillin' in the mountains




My new old bike in the shop






The boys in the woods





Adorable Biggie asleep on the couch





A tree on my car





Lupine in my garden





Boys in the car







Arlo's first haircut at his new home (he actually laid down on the grooming table and fell asleep)


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