Easter

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Another shot of the burned prairie. Soon, after the next good rain, it will rise again. And I plan to document its course throughout the year, from spring burn to fall frost.

And here is a poem worth contemplating, especially in times of stress. I find that with each reading the meaning becomes increasingly clear.
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The Waking

BY THEODORE ROETHKE

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.  
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.  
I learn by going where I have to go. 

We think by feeling. What is there to know?  
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.  
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. 

Of those so close beside me, which are you? 
God bless the Ground!   I shall walk softly there,  
And learn by going where I have to go. 

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?  
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;  
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. 

Great Nature has another thing to do  
To you and me; so take the lively air,  
And, lovely, learn by going where to go. 

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.  
What falls away is always. And is near.  
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.  
I learn by going where I have to go.

 

Road Home

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Substantial snow forecast for Estes, possibly limiting departure for a day or two, so after a leisurely lunch with the Spaldings we headed down twisting highway 34 along the Big Thompson River, observing the results of last year's big flood as the snow began to fall. Heavy rain snow up to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and then all along Interstate 80 to North Platte, Nebraska, where we are holed up for the night while the weather clears out. Dinner consists of pre-packed sandwich from the nearby gas station/pantry.

Stowaway

It was right about San Antonio that Sue, while driving, felt something crawling up her leg. Scorpion perhaps, or possibly tarantula? But no. No. Nothing but a gecko. A gecko who eluded capture at a truck stop, and seemed ready to travel, like Jack Kerouac or one of those free range chickens. Several hours later, near Sweetwater (no sign of water, btw), as we were switching drivers, Sue found the little liz under her pillow. A quick pull-off onto a side-road, some Texas rodeo style herding, and our peripatetic pal was off for greener (actually brown) pastures.

A very long diagonal across a seemingly endless and mostly esthetically challenged slice of Texas.

At Drury Inn in Amarillo, where we have every chain know to man to choose from for dinner.

At Drury Inn in Amarillo, where we have every chain know to man to choose from for dinner.

And parked next to two cars from Ontario. Why would anyone from Ontario be in Amarillo? Why would anyone be in Amarillo? Perhaps these folks are heading home from Albuquerque...

And parked next to two cars from Ontario. Why would anyone from Ontario be in Amarillo? Why would anyone be in Amarillo? Perhaps these folks are heading home from Albuquerque...