July 19

I felt like an inchworm climbing up the mountain. It was the first part of June, the flowers, trees, and bushes were in full bloom. The air was a bit cool, a jacket felt good. It was trying to rain as we waited for the cog to return at the depot. When it did the passengers stepped off wearing hats, gloves, and coats. I asked one of them if it was cold up on the peak. They said it was 20° and snowing up there. My daughter decided to make a hurried trip to the van to grab her coat. We boarded the cog soon after she returned. I am not a huge fan of heights; I had mixed emotions about the climb. My daughter had flat out refused to go the day before, but felt better about it once she saw the cog. The cog is very similar to being on a bus with the exception of the windows. The cog windows are very big and can either be up or down. The scenery was beautiful as we wound our way through the mountainside. The cog operator gave us information about the trees and animals that we saw or would hope to see along the way. I remember being a little over half way up and saw the summit, I panicked inside at the thought of going all the way up to the top. It seemed so high. As we continued to climb the air started to get chilly and then it turned cold. All the windows at this point had been closed. Then we started seeing snow, it was strange to see it in June. I felt like an inchworm climbing up the mountain. When we reached the summit, the air was freezing and it was snowing. Just outside the cog door was a red fox, he looked skinny and dirty. He wasn’t afraid of people; I managed to get within about three to four feet of him for a picture. It was warm inside the gift shop, and the fudge was unbelievable. The 14,110 ft altitude made my daughter queasy; she had to sit down most of the time we were there. We were above the clouds and Colorado Springs looked like a dot down below. We all loaded back into the cog and slowly made our way back down the mountain. I overcame my fear of riding the cog that day and wouldn’t mind riding it again someday.

July 18

We made yesterday evening to see our friends from out of state. I have been best friends with her for thirty-three years now, crazy. She and her son are staying with her brother, sister-in-law and niece. We talked and laughed until a little after ten last night. She was telling us stories about her recent trip to Utah. Her mother-in-law is eighty-ish years old and she took her to visit her ninety-three year old sister. We reminisced about good ole times from high school and running around. Some of those memories included her green Gremlin, her first car. That car didn’t have a heater; we kept blankets to cover up with in the winter in it. The horn if you listened really close sounded like to wires trying to make a connection. If you sat in the backseat you had to straddle the holes in the floorboard, kind of like a Fred Flintstone car. Those were good times, remembering them had us laughing and our kids looking at us like we were crazy. We talked about the struggles of school and balancing it with life. I wish she didn’t live so far away. We have always talked about going into business together someday, at this point in our lives I seriously doubt that will happen. Who knows, if I ever do make it to Colorado to live I will only be about twelve to thirteen hours from her.

July 17

Life sometimes feels like a balancing act. It seems to come in waves, hectic and normal. What really is normal? Family friends flew in today from out of state so life has once again switched gears, to a faster one. I have had a roller coaster of emotions today, excited to see them and so glad that they are here, to how will I fit anything else into the next couple of weeks. This visit was a surprise about three weeks ago. We typically try in the spring to get everyone’s schedule for summer so they aren’t so chaotic. I realized that this visit was going to be making it work the best we could. I opened up the Lesson seven folder this afternoon and read through it holding my breath. I let the breath out and took another when I read through the due dates. I think I am still holding it. It is after seven this evening and we are getting ready to go see them. Their plane landed today at 1:40; after leaving the airport they headed to a family members house in another town. I feel it will be a day-to-day schedule, I am trying not to stress about getting all my class assignments done and turned in. I believe I failed to mention my daughter has volleyball camp three days this week, we are having counter tops put in this week, and starting next week I have meetings that I can not miss; no stress. I am going to do a lot of deep breathing, self-talks, and prayer to keep my sanity.

Practice Description

I smell the wet sand. The ocean water carried on the breeze. I can faintly smell sunscreen. I can smell smoke from a fire. I can hear children laughing. I hear the waves falling on the shore. I hear a coast guard helicopter-passing over-head. I hear warnings issued from a megaphone. I hear my daughter’s laughter. I hear happiness. I hear people talking. I hear birds singing. I hear splashing. I see beautiful blue water. I see a pier in the distance. I see people enjoying the beach. I see birds hunting for food on the beach. I see colorful surfboards. I see wetsuits. I see shells. I see the beach life. I see surf shops. I see coast highway. I see cars. I see bronzed bodies. I see swimsuits. I see board shorts. I see body boards. I see the white caps of waves rolling in to shore. I see the coastline. I see my daughter’s smile. I see the ocean. I see creation. I see the sun sinking into the ocean. I see a fire. I feel excitement. I feel contentment. I feel serenity. I feel a chill in the air. I feel the coldness of the ocean. I feel the yuk of kelp on my feet and legs. I feel the sand between my toes. I feel the sting of the salt water on the legs. I feel proud. I feel happiness. I feel the softness of the sand. I feel the hardness of the wet sand. I feel the warmth from the sun. I feel the moistness of the breeze. I feel the sand granules stick to my wet feet. I feel the power of the tide. I feel the dampness of the air. I feel the smoothness of the rocks. I feel the moment.

cont. July 1

When he opened his eyes, he saw the mysterious person he had spent the day wondering about. He watched as Celeste used her hands as she talked and on occasion to push her hair off her shoulder. He loved how she tilted her head slightly when she laughed. He sat and just took in everything about her. After finishing their drinks, he watched as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. They finished their conversation and parted ways. As she walked away he realized he didn’t know anything about her, how would he be able to get in touch with her? He quickly stood up and made his way to the door. He had to figure something out. Maybe he could accidently bump into her. He could follow her; that seemed too creepy. Although sitting and watching her in the coffee shop was a bit creepy. He decided to bump into her. He walked faster to catch up. As he apologized he started to smile. Celeste was a bit startled, her grimace turned into a grin; didn’t I meet you at the service yesterday? Yea, he answered. She looked beautiful in the softness of the streetlight, he couldn’t think of anything else. Do you live around here she asked him. No, I was ummm, just out for a walk, he replied. He had to ask, would you like to get some coffee sometime? I hardly know you, she said with a slight grin. I know, so that’s why you need to say yes, meet me tomorrow at seven, there’s a little coffee shop just down the street on the corner. They were both smiling as they walked away into the night.

cont. July 1

As he unfolded it, he noticed some of the letters were smudged. It read “seven o’clock at the Corner Coffee”. Gently he folded and stuck it in his pocket. The rain was merely a drizzle now as evening set in. He was awake before the alarm, the note had his curiosity peaked. Who was she meeting, a boyfriend, her sister? Thoughts raced through his head as he went through the motions at work. He rushed home to shower and grab a bite before heading out. He felt nervous as he walked toward Corner Coffee. He was early; he wanted to find a spot where he wouldn’t be seen. Feeling foolish he started to get up, he couldn’t, in Celeste walked. He watched her as she made her way to sit down. He noticed the dress she was wearing and how it stopped just above her knee. Her blonde hair flowed across her back and shoulders. She was gorgeous. His heart was pounding. He wanted to casually walk over to her as though is was a coincidence. As he pondered the thought she began to smile and waved slightly as she glanced towards the door. Quickly he turned and looked away; he didn’t want to know. He knew it had to be a man she was meeting. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Closing his eyes he reluctantly turned back around and made a bit with himself.

July 13

Have you ever noticed how good everything taste in the summer? Maybe it’s just me but I love fresh vegetables and fruit in the summer. It has to be fresh from the garden, not mine because I don’t put one out. I am so thankful to those that do; I get to enjoy the benefit of their harvest. So crisp, when you bit into them they snap, unlike the cucumbers from the grocery store, almost mushy. Yellow and green zucchini cooked in a little olive oil and topped off with butter and salt at the end. Fresh sliced tomato, throw a little bacon, bread, and mayo in for a wonderful summer sand which. The juice dripping off elbows, and so full of flavor you can taste the fuzz of the peach. I think peaches are my favorite fruit this time of year. Grilled corn on the cob, oozing with butter around the kernels. I can’t forget green beans, snapped and cooked with some bacon. Everything is so fresh and full of flavor. It is probably a good thing that summer growing season doesn’t last year round. Thinking about all of this food has me starving.