Not One More Minute

There is a lady who comes into my business about once a month or so.

She was always friendly, smiling, perhaps wound a little too tight but we always had short and enjoyable conversations.

One day a few weeks ago our conversation veered towards kayaking.

Spring and early summer were cold and wet (even by western-Rocky Mountain Region standards) and I was commiserating about having only paddled a couple of times so far this year.

As the conversation progressed we checked the weather forecast and (since I had two kayaks) we decided that we would kayak together on Sunday morning.

The lady met me at the house, we loaded boats into the back of the Suburban (since LC had the truck full of wood) and we headed two miles down the South Fork Highway, turned onto the Lower South Fork Rd and pulled into a dirt circular driveway ready and enthusiastic to be heading out onto the water.

As we were unloading the kayaks we heard the first clap of thunder off in the distance...................

It had been mostly sunny when we left the house, and only fifteen minutes later the sky was rapidly looking more ominous.

With a disappointed sigh, we looked at the colorful boats, looked up at the sky again, and decided that we would wait out the weather.

As we quietly chatted we glanced up at the sky every few minutes, watching as a band of dark clouds rapidly moved over us and continued on their way to Carter Mountain.....................

Still hearing occasional claps of thunder but watching as the ominous clouds continued on their journey away from us, the lady and I decided to risk it.

We were ready to paddle.

The sky was mostly watery blue.

It was warm and the lake was mostly calm

We were ready to go......................

Looking at mountains on the back side of Buffalo Bill Reservoir as we left shore and headed out..................

It was still early enough in the season that this section of the reservoir was still filled with birds.

Small islands dotted the water.

Nesting areas for pelicans, ducks and seagulls.

Very quickly we both fell into an easy going combination of paddling, picture taking, and conversation.................

I learned a lot about this lady while paddling that I didn't know before, and I actually spent more time listening that I did talking.

Case workers - drug addiction - angry middle of the night text messages to fellow employees - problematic work histories.

By the time we headed back to the house and said our goodbyes the lady made the observation as she tried to hug me that I "wasn't a hugger".

Well yes............actually I am.  

Hugging often and at every opportunity.  With the less-than-a-handful of people with whom I care deeply.

Everyone else?  Not so much.

But I didn't say that of course.................

A week later this same lady stopped at my business.

We talked and laughed about the kayak trip.

And then she began to speak of her grandmother, who lives with her part time.

Quickly the conversation turned to how mean her grandmother was.  How difficult her grandmother was to care for.  

She made the observation that she had been trying (unsuccessfully) to find prescription drugs on the street to help control her grandmother.

I suggested an appointment for the grandmother so a doctor could review her medications and possibly prescribe something else to help with mood swings.

  I also cautioned against giving her grandmother illegal drugs that may conflict with other medications the older woman was already on.

The womans' response was that she didn't care about side effects.

And then she abruptly began to cry.

 And I wordlessly watched her cry.

Was I supposed to console her?  Put my arms around her?  Say something sympathetic?  

I don't know.

I did none of those things.

I wordlessly watched her cry for a few minutes until she eventually stopped.

She quickly changed moods and suggested that we should go kayaking together again soon.

I told her that I was not interested in kayaking with her again.  

That I preferred to paddle alone.  

But thank you for coming out with me last weekend.  I really enjoyed it.

And with that she left.

It was all very uncomfortable, but we both smiled and pretended that it wasn't uncomfortable.

And so it goes....................

LC was a law enforcement officer.

He was a member of a drug task force, and almost died in an ambush attack after a cartel-driven hit was put out on all five members of the task force.

He was very seriously injured.

Forced into medical retirement.

He lost his livelihood.  

He lost the job he loved.  

All that training over many years - down the drain. 

After all these years he still deals with health issues related to his injuries.

I'll be damned if I spend one more minute with this woman...................

Quiet Urban Adventures

LCs brother from Minnesota stayed for only a short while before returning home.
Which is not uncommon.

The day before he left we were all in the mood for quiet adventure and so we stayed in town.

Cody is divided into three major sections:

"Up on the hill".

"Downtown".

"Lower level".

On this day we wandered in places up on the hill.

This part of town includes Beck Lake and Markham Reservoir - a wonderful recreational green space nestled in the midst of a straight-up residential area.

This park is used extensively by locals who want to enjoy the outdoors without having to leave the city.  

Mountain views.  Trails.  Picnic areas.  A dog park.  A bicycle park.  Fishing and swimming and kayaking. 

Also up on the hill is shopping.  The airport.  The recreation complex.  Highway leading eventually to Greybull in one direction and Meeteetse in another.  The library and post office and Veterans Park.  

And at one end of a residential area is an entrance to BLM land.

We started at an overlook adjacent to the rec center.

While LC and Gary read informational boards about the history of Cody, and looked out over the entire span of mountains and mountain ranges that were visible from this elevated perch, I wandered briefly with Kory.

Predictably she was drawn to tall grass and narrow trail.

It was a beautiful day.

Warm - not hot like it is now - the world was abundantly green after all the rain we have had and the wild flowers were in bloom.....................

The trees of the city in the foreground with McCullough Peaks in the distance..................

By the time Kory and I circled back to the overlook LC and Gary had found a bench to sit and relax, and I smiled as I watched them talking and laughing with each other.

It was obvious that they were enjoying this place, and enjoying each others company.

We had been to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West the previous day to attend the grand reopening of the gun museum.

Entry to the museum was free to the public and the place had been packed with visitors, so I did not even try to take pictures.

It is an extraordinary place and I will take pictures in the fall once the museum (and Cody) finally quieten down again.

So we were tired the next day.

We had all enjoyed the museum, but the next day was a day to be outside and to find some quiet beautiful.

This was one of those places....................

Looking from the overlook back towards the ice arena.

The entire recreation complex consists of the arena, the recreation center and the aquatic center.

Across the parking lot from the rec complex is the library, and that was our next stop.

LC and Gary climbed back into the vehicle and headed to the parking area in front of the library, while Kory and I crossed through the rec complex parking lot and headed for the ponds that surround the library..................

This area is one of those "Kory Places" that I wrote about not long ago.

One of those places that she knows so well.  

That she loves to explore.  

That she knows will allow her time to be outside and wandering.

She knows exactly where she is when we turn into this place and she immediately becomes excited and filled with anticipation of great adventure.

The library building itself is gorgeous inside and out.

The grounds are beautiful..................

Cody Public Library...................

The plan had been for the guys to move the Suburban to the front of the library and then meet us on the library grounds.

By the time Kory and I were half way across the grounds though, it became apparent that they were both going to hold back and wait for us close to the vehicle.

Not surprising.

Two tired men.

Instead of looking for them I focused on the terrain around me.

The beautiful buildings.  The beautiful green space.

The pond that completely circumnavigates the library.

The views of Cedar and Rattlesnake Mountains in front of me, and Heart Mountain to my right.

Kory was having a wonderful time, as she always does in this place.  

Abundant new and interesting odors.  

A place to drink and swim and cool off.

A wondrous and magical place for a curious dog.....................

A look back at more of the recreation complex...................

30 minutes after saying goodbye to LC and Gary, we all regrouped in the parking lot in front of the library.

One last look at the ponds.

Next stop - Veterans Park.....................

Veterans Park is located across the four lane highway from Beck Lake and adjacent to the small Cody Airport.

For a small town it is a really outstanding park - abundant green space and benches for resting and reflection, views of the lake and surrounding mountains, and monuments and spaces to acknowledge the sacrifices and service of Cody citizens from WWI up to today.

Six weeks earlier LC and I had visited this place to honor the dedication of the new War Dog statue.

We were at the back of the attending crowd, listened respectfully to a range of speeches, and by the time they finally unveiled the statue we were so cold we decided to bail on the proceedings - instead going on the hunt for pie and coffee at Grannies Restaurant downtown while we both warmed up.

Six weeks later it was increasingly hot and the park was empty except for us - two men, a woman and a dog......................

Each war (or major "police action") has its own separate space in the park, but lining every section, every footpath, are stones commemorating someone who was special to someone else.

The names make their sacrifice real.

Every time I look at the names I feel the pain of their loss.

Spread out all over the town, all over the county, all over the state, all over the country, are the families tied to these names.

Every time I am in this place I can feel the people named.  And can feel the pain of their families.  Every one of them..................

Our dog always finds the water.

She found the doggie water fountain by the overlook at the rec center.

She found the ponds at the library.

She found the overflow of Beck Lake that is adjacent to the Veterans Park.

Cooling off on a hot day with Cedar Mountain and Rattlesnake Mountain in the background...................

One random shoe found in the rocks by the lake.

The overflow is popular with fishermen, and is also a popular place to put-in canoes and kayaks.................

I took a number of pictures of the War Dog/Handler statue, but there was a sun spot in most of them.

We'll have to go back.

But it is a beautiful statue....................

In total we spent a couple of hours wandering three different urban areas up on the hill in Cody.

A good way to spend a very warm Sunday morning while engaging in quiet adventure...........................

It seems very safe to me to be surrounded by green growing things and water................Barbara Kingsolver