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24 September ~ 2007

The band at the Rose was good this weekend - Chas Blakemore, from Kentucky. Their lead guitarist is incredibly talented - The solo he played during Johnny B Good was something that was hard to believe. I heard it on Thursday night, and again on Saturday.

On Thursday I had a dance partner during Johnny B Good that really knew how to spin. As the song ended I turned her to the right three times and on the last one let her fall while I held her with my arms. She was happy, and as I walked her off the floor I told her I think I have to leave now, because any dance after that one will be a disappointment. It was true, and I left, figuring I could save some for Saturday night.

Saturday picked up right where Thursday left off. This band keeps a perfect beat for dancing, which is something you might not realize if you didn't go out there every week. A lot of it depends on the skill of their drummer. Unfortunately they don't play at the Rose very much, only twice this year.

On Saturday night I asked a young lady to dance who had red hair, and who wore a tight dress with black and gray horizontal stripes, and high heels. She said 'Oh No,' I don't know the first thing about country dancing, I couldnt," and "I am just visiting, from Ireland." She had a very strong accent, and I loved listening to her talk. She said wait a while, which of course meant she needed some liquid courage. About a hour later the band started up Fast As You by Dwight Yoakum, and I decided to try to teach her to triple step. She caught on right away, and it was a thrill for both of us. Her accent was enchanting.

I have done the twostep and triplestep there for over 15 years - probably have gone miles and miles circling that dance floor. What makes it remain new and fun is dancing with different partners. The best ones are not always the experienced dancers. They are like her, who have never done it before, but find out from my leads that they are good at it. They are usually delighted and grateful that I asked them to dance.

Sunday me and the dogs went up to the high country. We couldn't go on a long trek, since Ben's foot is still healing, but we climbed a steep slope on the flanks of Mt Elbert, and sat up our camp in a ridgetop grove of Aspens.

It felt awful good to be up there again, which I have missed tremendously while Ben's paws healed. This trip was perfect solitude - no one knowing where I was, and perfect silence, except for the remaining aspen leaves rattling in the breezes.

After dark some elk came near camp on the way down to graze and/or get water. Maggie came closer to me and Ben had a wild eyed excited look. After a while I unzipped the tent and scanned the area with my flashlight to make sure it was clear, then let the dogs out to investigate so they could calm down and sleep. They went up the slope a little ways but I called them back, and they came right away.

In the long fall nights there is more than enough time for 8 hours sleep - 11 hours of darkness now. Then I listen to the night and some music I bring along, and there is plenty of time for thinking, and reviewing my life. I am clear-eyed and grateful for the things that make my life rich - the volunteer work and the dancing and these trips to the wilderness. The storytelling I do every month in the elementary school is much more rewarding than I would have ever imagined. I understand that if my future is to continue these activities in the years ahead I will be a happy and satisfied man.

Before dark I gathered some sticks and covered them with a tarp in case it rained overnight, and I would need the dry wood to take the chill of of a 10,200 feet morning. It did rain, but me and Ben and Maggie were cozy and warm in my backpack tent. By morning the clouds had drifted off, and I was treated to a gorgeous alpine sunrise, with fresh snow on the high peaks.

It was a great trip. Ben showed no signs of limping, which means God willing we will be able to take a longer trip by November or December.

The sweet scent of decaying aspen leaves brought memories of almost 40 falls that I have enjoyed in Colorado. The aspen trees were at peak yellow, and gusts of wind would scatter the leaves down over my camp. The forest floor was carpeted with gold, and accented with purple strawberry and red wild rose leaves. I just had to look up and see the new snow 1000 feet higher. The beauty of all of it was awe-inspiring, and made me awful glad me and my two dog buddies were healthy enough to get up high again.

(to see a 700 pixel wide image of the above collage, click here; to see a 1400 wide pixel image of the above picture, click here.)