Fin Swimin'

Oasis

It is warm, but not really that bad. In fact I think I'll miss it a bit -- certainly this winter. I'd rather be too hot than too cold and the dry heat here makes the pools feel refreshing.

Antelope Island

As a kid I must have gone to Antelope Island a few times with my family. I know I hadn't been there in decades when my daughter had a biking field day there a few years ago and I got to help out with hauling kids and bikes out to the island. As we headed down the causeway, I thought "this seems so familiar." And it was even more so when we got to the island and out on the beach. I'm not crazy about the bugs but it felt good to walk in the sand again, to get my feet in the water.

A couple of years ago I saw the island in a new way -- as a participant in the annual moonlight bike ride. Labako introduced me to the experience and the next year I brought my college-age son along. We had such a good time that Joe signed us up for the moonlight ride this year. We'd both looked forward to going, but it was not to be. Earlier in the week my mother-in-law passed away and Joe and I had viewing and funeral responsibilities to attend to.

I gave our wristbands to Labako figuring he might be able to make use of them and it turns out he took his 6-year-old son to my island of warm childhood memories. Maybe decades from now Jonathan will notice a certain quality in the sunset, or the way the moonlight shines on the lake and he'll remember that Antelope Island bike ride with his dad.

Antelope Island Moonlight Ride

table plant

Thirty two years is a long time to know someone. Long enough to build a big list of qualities you admire, love you've been shown, laughter you've shared. CJ's smile, her determination, her love and loyalty are on my list, along with patience, pride and professionalism - creativity, caring and courage - advice, acceptance, action - forgiveness, fun, freedom - games, grace, guts - enthusiasm, education, example - honor, help, holidays - work, welfare, wisdom.

And quotes I'll never forget: "We're all walking wounded, a mixed bag of contradictions. - You're rich in all the ways that matter. - Once you've tasted honey, sugar just ain't gonna do. - We're so proud of you. - Take care of that little family. - You know, we love you."

Tuesday afternoon she started a new journey. Got on the bus. Boarded the plane. Embarked on the voyage. Hiked to the peak and saw a new but familiar horizon. We'll miss her, celebrate her, laugh, cry and keep adding to the long list she made possible.

Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel, California

My trip to Monterey included a visit to this beautiful area, described in the tourist guide as "the crown jewel of California's state park system...attracts over 300,000 visitors a year." But in early June of 2007 it wasn't crowded and was well worth the short drive from Monterey.

...is a real fancy one for a serious camera with some heavy glass on the front end. And why, you ask, am I writing about tripods at this late hour? Because I just noticed that this video that I thought had crashed while uploading actually did load OK. Not that the video is OK, but hey this is a shot on a STILL camera after all and just a bipod--my two feet. The jerky pan deserves a pan, but the bikers ending the shot was a happy moment. 

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The block U doesn't usually look this rural, but for me the angle is unusual. It's from the Salt Lake City Cemetary's rock wall on 11th Avenue, just above the Veteran's graves.