Cold Wyoming

I have enjoyed my time home in cold, cold Wyoming very much. Flew into Cody Christmas Eve and as soon as I had my bags went outside to stand in the crisp freezing air and wait for the family to find Cody's new airport terminal. I stood there long enough to wish I had my wool layers and mittens. They arrived in time with the family . . . Dad through into the car my tub labeled "Liberty's Warm Stuff." I dived in and pulled out my wool scarf and coat and cuddled into them and climbed into the back seat of the van with my two sisters for the drive to Worland. I overheated very quickly.

After Christmas we went to Sturgis, SD, to see all of Mom's siblings and their families as we gathered at Grandma's for her 78th birthday and the New Year. I had a good time catching up with cousins, aunts, and uncles, and eating tons of Grandma's holiday food, including lefse and fattigman. Playing backgammon with my Aunt Pam was especially entertaining. Aunt Lynette couldn't understand why we so often left our pieces unguarded . . . it's because Pam and I both prefer the immediate pleasure of capturing our opponent's pieces over the calculated process of actually winning.

We hid from a great blizzard for all of Thursday and Friday. The wind howled against the house, and the snow accumulated in great drifts. I went outside once and the cold wind blew the breath right out of me. Saturday morning Uncle Mike, David, and I dug and pushed a neighbor out of the drift in their driveway. The stuck neighbor almost backed into a VW Beetle when we freed him: I think he was distracted by the fact that I fell face first into the snow in my typical graceful fashion.

The drive home New Years day over the Big Horns was beautiful with the fresh snow all over the forests and peaks. Stunning views, plus a moose cow and calf . . . I think this will be a good year. The temperatures have been rising since the storm . . . at 11 this morning it was a whole 3 degrees above 0. On New Years morning when Dad drove my sister to her rendezvous in Greybull, it was -25 F. Burrrr. Yesterday (-5 F when I cranked up my car) I drove into the mountains with some snow shoes and took a walk in the woods. It is incredible that even in forests at 9,000 ft. above sea level in the dead of winter there are still organisms surviving. I sat on a log for awhile and listened to the forest. There was wind, creaking trees, and the talk of tiny birds, tucked away somewhere in those frost bound woods.

With the New Year and having seen my wonderful Alaska relatives, I am starting the process of finding my summer adventure. The first plan is to go to Alaska. I'm applying to a fishing crew through a friend, looking into National Park and Forest Service jobs, and jobs associated with the oil industry on the North Slope. Of course I would prefer the fishing job, as unpredictable and hard as it is. Then maybe I'll be moving on to something else for the rest of the year and fulfill that dream of spending at least a year in Alaska. If nothing in Alaska works out, I'll move to Ten Sleep, WY, and try to make a way there. Wherever I am, I hope to throw at least some radishes and lettuce in the ground for the summer.

But for now, back to Bee Heaven for a few more months and lovely weather, tomatoes, weeds, fresh herbs, and all kinds of South Florida discoveries. I fly to Miami tomorrow morning, and look forward to what is waiting for me in my next four or five months in the Redland.