Having my coffee at Mather point in freezing weather waiting for the sunrise and the Japanese tourists looking at me like they would have given any amount of Yen for that cup.
Taking a walk at night with my High School Girlfriend after 45 years of separation. We were to be married until Fate and Vietnam intervened. And meeting her daughter, married with teenaged sons, but who reminded me so much of her Mother when she was 17.
Watching the Bull Elk defend and protect his females and offspring at Geyser basin along Yellowstone Lake.
Watching the Sunset at Picacho Peak state park. Where were The Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote? They were the only missing element.
Watching the High school homecoming parade get going at Monument valley. All of those beautiful Navajo kids, all SO American and Yet still SO Navajo.
Being given the honor of looking at the photo album of a man who had been coming to the Baja for 40 years with his family and now again in retirement. A true gentleman and great Dune Buggy driver.
Meeting the young man from Italy at Cocos corner in the Baja who had ridden his BMW 1200 motorcycle from Valparaiso, ChileโฆAlone. Never robbed, never felt threatened. He loved Columbia. We fed him Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner listened to his stories and regaled him with a few of our own.
Taking naps under my trailer in the midday AZ heat. Better than aircon.
Fish Tacos
Finding โTotal Wine and Moreโ. After so long living in SE ASIA we knew nothing of this store. I felt like a kid in a toy store. Completely dumbfounded by the selection and said to myself. โAh Civilizationโ Bought Greek Wine and a very good Cabernet.
Reading Philip Caputoโs book A Rumor of War
Eating the Habanero Pickles and Cherry Pie from the historic farmhouse grocery at Capitlol Reef National Park and picking apples and pears from the orchards in the campsite.
Grand Teton National ParkโฆAll of it.
The National Forest Campground just west of Yellowstone, Beaver Creek and Quake lake where the eagles perched in the early morning sun on spires of dead trees in the lake waiting to spot breakfast.
Reminding myself that I was lucky to be born in one of the most privileged countries on the planet which allows me to do this in retirement. To those of you who love to complain about our government and itโs policies you should spend about 5 years living under a despotic government in some tropical backwater where opportunity is only a fleeting idea spelledโฆ A M E R I C A.
