POST # 59
So here we are, almost the end of January already and my final blog for this first month of 2013. Again, I wake up to not only a blue sky to start the day, but a blank brain to park here in front of the computer screen.
I was thinking I should write about all the dental work that I have had completed (almost) across the border in Los Algodones, which should be named Los Algodentist instead, but I have already talked about this in another blog. One thing I will add though, is that during the last visit to my dentist there, I asked him how many dentists he thought there were in town and he said probably at least 300 or more. Now that doesn't seem like a lot if you lived in a major metropolitan area, but Los Algodones has a population of only around 5000 or so. He told me that it used to be just a small village years ago, and he remembers that he could just walk back and forth across the border and that it was a sleepy little border crossing.
One day, according to him, there was a Mexican man visiting town, who had just recently become a dentist. He was sitting in a bar or cafe, I can't remember which, and an American tourist was also there. They struck up a conversation and apparently the American had a tooth that was bothering him that needed to be extracted. The newly minted Mexican dentist told the American that he could help with his problem, and so they found a place where he could perform the operation, and thus was born the dental industry in Los Algodones. The original dentist has since retired but his dental practice is still there to this day. Today, when one walks around town, all you see are dental clinics, pharmacies and eyeglass shops. If the original meeting between the Mexican dentist and the American tourist hadn't taken place, Los Algodones might still be the sleepy little border town that my dentist remembers it to have been when he was a child.
Moving right along. Yesterday, the 27th, I was thinking that the date was significant for one reason or another. What is it about me with dates? If I had a memory for the content of books that I have read, as I do for dates, I would probably come across as a much more intelligent soul, but such is not the case. But dates just seem to stick in my brain for whatever reason. So as I was pondering what significance January 27th had for me, it finally clicked. The year was 2009 and as best as I can recall it was cool and overcast, with maybe some rain showers off and on. The location was Vancouver and it was my final day working at Aquabus Ferry Service. Even though it was four years ago now, I can still remember my mixed emotions on the day. Here was a job that I had loved, without a doubt the best job I had ever done in my entire life, and believe me I've done a few. I think the count is around 42 by now. Anyhow, I do remember feeling excited that it was my last day of work but at the same time feeling sad that I was saying goodbye to Aquabus. I had not come to the decision easily, but after considering everything, it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. I had based my decision on a variety of factors, not least of which was a desire to spend less time in a city environment. My plan at the time was to take a year off, and just see where that led to, and now one year has turned into four. Society would look upon this as me being retired, but I have never really bought into this whole retirement thing. I am just living my life the best way that I know how, and at the moment that doesn't include a regular paid job. My guess at this point is that I may never have a regular paid job ever again, and with the way things are going in the world, it seems like I am not alone. My "work" if you can call what I do now work, has become more of a labour of love than anything else. I get to spend what time I have with animals for the most part and I have found it to be a very pleasant way to spend a day. I had no plans to become a full time house/petsitter but it seems to suite me just fine, at least for now. Of course the future always has a component of uncertainty in it, and so I can't be sure how long this lifestyle will continue, but for the present time I am content with the benefits that it affords me in my simple life.
Back here at the ranch in Yuma, I am now left with only Watson the dog for another week. Up until a couple of days ago, I was also caring for two birds as well, because their owners had taken a trip to Mexico for a while and they needed someone to look after their little feathered friends. So now I can add birds to my list along with toads. The house is quieter in the morning now with them gone, and I wasn't aware until they left just how much I enjoyed them chirping in the background each and every day. But Mr. Watson is company enough, and we have had a wonderful time together since I arrived here back in mid December. I can't believe all that time has gone by so fast. Watson and I are best mates now, and it will be difficult to say goodbye to him when I leave, but I think we'll have an opportunity to see each other again in the future. With one more week to go, we'll make sure to have as much fun as we possibly can before our time is up.
Other news on the Yuma front is that this past week for the first time since I arrived, we had an entire day in which there was an overcast sky. I have been getting so used to seeing blue sky each day, it was rather strange, and I guess it was a little reminder of things to come once I journey back north. We even had rain which was another odd event for here. Last night the most amazing thunder storm took place and Watson and I watched out the front window, as mother nature put on quite a display. But today everything is back to the way it was, with a blue sky and sunshine.
After I leave here, but before I head back north, I will be taking a little side adventure to New Mexico for a few days. I will be there during my next scheduled blog entry on February 7th, so I may or may not be able to write then, and I won't know that until that time comes. However if nothing gets written on the 7th, I will fill in all the details of the adventure on February 14th.
So January is almost complete, and it's the warmest January I've experienced in quite some time. I will continue to enjoy the sunny days as they roll on by, knowing that before too long I will be back in the Pacific Northwest, where I am pretty sure that I will be having the opportunity to see a few more clouds than I have seen here in Yuma. Until then, I will continue to work on my sun tan while I walk around the desert with my new best friend, Watson.
Happy Trails,
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
Grapefruit PS.
When I was housesitting on Orcas in October, I was there when all the apples were free for the picking. Now, here in Yuma at the end of January, the neighbours put out free grapefruit for whomever wants it. Free organic grapefruit. The sweetest, most juicy grapefruit I've ever tasted.
THOUGHTFUL: showing consideration for others; occupied with or given to thought; contemplative; meditative. WANDERER: moving from place to place without a fixed plan; or having no permanent residence; nomadic.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
WINDS OF CHANGE
POST # 58
Last week, somewhere south of the Hawaiian island chain in the mid Pacific ocean, a collection of air molecules started off on a journey. In previous years, this air mass in some cases would continue to flow in a direction that would send it across the ocean to the Pacific Northwest, in what is known in Vancouver at least as the "Pineapple Express". Blowing from the direction that it had come, the air was warm, and would have the effect of not only increasing the temperature on the west coast, but at the same time it would usually bring with it a fair amount of rain as well. From there, the air mass would continue its journey in an easterly direction over the prairies, across to the east coast and beyond, over the Atlantic ocean, then onwards to Europe and beyond, eventually circling the globe.
But last week, this air mass charted a different course. Instead of heading in a primarily easterly direction, it instead veered way up northwards over the high latitudes of Alaska and the Yukon, before it made a sharp turn south, down the entire length of British Columbia, crossing the border into the USA, eventually arriving here in Yuma as a cold northerly wind.
In one respect, I found this quite amazing. It was incredible to think that the same air that had started off its journey south of Hawaii had travelled such a huge distance in a matter of days. Probably in round numbers, 10,000 kms or 6250 miles. Incredible.
It was troubling as well. What made it so, was its trajectory, and for this part of the discussion we need to mention something about the jet stream. The easiest way to think of the jet stream is to imagine an invisible barrier of air that circles around the planet from west to east at high altitude. In general, in the northern hemisphere, this jet stream shifts north or south dependiing on the season, and the air mass north of it is colder than the air mass south of it. So far so good. What has been normal up until recent times was that the jet stream would flow at a rather rapid speed, and meander along its course. However now, as the satellite images show, the meanderings have become much more exaggerated and the speed of the jet stream has slowed relative to what has been the norm. This has primarily caused two things to happen. The first is that warmer tropical air now flows up into more northerly latitudes, and cold polar air sinks farther south towards the equator. The second effect is that these weather systems can now be "stuck" in a type of holding pattern longer than normal. As a result many things can come about from heavy downpours to the other extreme of drought conditions during the summer season, to large snowfalls followed by cold air masses in the winter. This is now becoming the new normal.
But why is this happening? Well it's beginning to look like the primary reason is due to the loss of ice in the polar region. It is now disappearing at such a rapid rate, that it is now estimated that the Arctic Ocean could be ice free as early as this coming September, but many scientists are now saying that by September of 2015 it will be ice free at the very latest. The Arctic hasn't been ice free for over three MILLION years, so this is signifcant. As a result of the melting ice, the temperature difference between the areas of the planet north and south of the jetstream is now less than before, and this is what has impacted the speed and direction of the jet stream. Or at least that is what is widely believed at this point in time.
So this brings me back to the cold days we had here in Yuma last week. I am quite sure I wouldn't be getting any sympathy from my friends in the Yukon, as the degree of cold is relative. But it was chilly enough here to make it difficult to want to get out from under the covers in the morning. Thankfully I had my little bed heater in the form of one Mr. Watson the dog, to help.
Things have warmed up significantly since then, however when I looked at the satellite images today from out in the Pacific Ocean, I can see a similar pattern setting up. Whether we see some cold temperatures again soon, only time will tell, but for now at least, Watson and I will take advantage of the summer like weather and make sure to get out for a few walks, because he likes to, and because my right leg needs the work out.
Happy birthday mom.
Happy birthday Troy.
Happy trails.
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
Last week, somewhere south of the Hawaiian island chain in the mid Pacific ocean, a collection of air molecules started off on a journey. In previous years, this air mass in some cases would continue to flow in a direction that would send it across the ocean to the Pacific Northwest, in what is known in Vancouver at least as the "Pineapple Express". Blowing from the direction that it had come, the air was warm, and would have the effect of not only increasing the temperature on the west coast, but at the same time it would usually bring with it a fair amount of rain as well. From there, the air mass would continue its journey in an easterly direction over the prairies, across to the east coast and beyond, over the Atlantic ocean, then onwards to Europe and beyond, eventually circling the globe.
But last week, this air mass charted a different course. Instead of heading in a primarily easterly direction, it instead veered way up northwards over the high latitudes of Alaska and the Yukon, before it made a sharp turn south, down the entire length of British Columbia, crossing the border into the USA, eventually arriving here in Yuma as a cold northerly wind.
In one respect, I found this quite amazing. It was incredible to think that the same air that had started off its journey south of Hawaii had travelled such a huge distance in a matter of days. Probably in round numbers, 10,000 kms or 6250 miles. Incredible.
It was troubling as well. What made it so, was its trajectory, and for this part of the discussion we need to mention something about the jet stream. The easiest way to think of the jet stream is to imagine an invisible barrier of air that circles around the planet from west to east at high altitude. In general, in the northern hemisphere, this jet stream shifts north or south dependiing on the season, and the air mass north of it is colder than the air mass south of it. So far so good. What has been normal up until recent times was that the jet stream would flow at a rather rapid speed, and meander along its course. However now, as the satellite images show, the meanderings have become much more exaggerated and the speed of the jet stream has slowed relative to what has been the norm. This has primarily caused two things to happen. The first is that warmer tropical air now flows up into more northerly latitudes, and cold polar air sinks farther south towards the equator. The second effect is that these weather systems can now be "stuck" in a type of holding pattern longer than normal. As a result many things can come about from heavy downpours to the other extreme of drought conditions during the summer season, to large snowfalls followed by cold air masses in the winter. This is now becoming the new normal.
But why is this happening? Well it's beginning to look like the primary reason is due to the loss of ice in the polar region. It is now disappearing at such a rapid rate, that it is now estimated that the Arctic Ocean could be ice free as early as this coming September, but many scientists are now saying that by September of 2015 it will be ice free at the very latest. The Arctic hasn't been ice free for over three MILLION years, so this is signifcant. As a result of the melting ice, the temperature difference between the areas of the planet north and south of the jetstream is now less than before, and this is what has impacted the speed and direction of the jet stream. Or at least that is what is widely believed at this point in time.
So this brings me back to the cold days we had here in Yuma last week. I am quite sure I wouldn't be getting any sympathy from my friends in the Yukon, as the degree of cold is relative. But it was chilly enough here to make it difficult to want to get out from under the covers in the morning. Thankfully I had my little bed heater in the form of one Mr. Watson the dog, to help.
Things have warmed up significantly since then, however when I looked at the satellite images today from out in the Pacific Ocean, I can see a similar pattern setting up. Whether we see some cold temperatures again soon, only time will tell, but for now at least, Watson and I will take advantage of the summer like weather and make sure to get out for a few walks, because he likes to, and because my right leg needs the work out.
Happy birthday mom.
Happy birthday Troy.
Happy trails.
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
Monday, January 14, 2013
CROSSING THE BORDER
POST # 57
Many years ago, 1985 to be exact I was standing at the reception desk of a large hotel in Mexico City. With me was a travelling friend, Don. We had only been in Mexico for a couple of days at this point, but on the flight down we had made friends with a young American who happened to be studying in Mexico City and who also happened to be fluent in Spanish. He became our de facto translator and so up to the point of where we now stood, we had managed to dodge the reality that there was a language barrier. Both Don and myself were world travellers and we had always managed to find that in most places there was at least some English spoken. Our translator had now departed, and here we stood at the desk, ready to check in for the night.
Don and Paul: "Hi, we'd like a room for the night please."
Person at reception desk: A BLANK STARE AND SMILE
D&P: This time more slowly. "We'd like a room for the night please."
Desk person: THE SAME BLANK STARE
It was at this point that we both realized that it was time to get out the Spanish/English dictionary so that we could find a few words to help us communicate, and eventually we managed to get a room. Just a little aside, it's always amusing how people tend to talk slower or louder to try and be understood in another language. As if that's going to make any difference. If the person you are speaking to doesn't understand the language, speaking it slowly or shouting at them isn't going to help at all.
But anyway, why am I rambling on about an event that happened so long ago? Well it came to mind because during this past week I have made a couple of trips to a little border town close to Yuma, called Los Algodones. Los Algodones is the northern most town in Mexico and its northeastern tip is the most northern point of Mexico. Another interesting geographical distinction is that if someone were to travel in any of the four cardinal directions from anywhere in Algodones (due north, due east, due south or due west), they would cross a U.S. border. The population is rather small, just over 5000 souls, and as soon as a person crosses over into Algodones, or at least as soon as this person crossed over, there is an immediate feeling of community, with lots of people out on the streets walking here and there or just sitting down and enjoying the day and each other's company. The other thing that is very apparent is the proliferation of dental clinics, and pharmacies which are packed cheek by jowel along all the main roads in town. And this is really where this story is leading to today.
Back in late February of last year, I was having a conversation with the folks in Grand Forks where I was about to start my housesit, and the topic of Yuma came up while we were driving into town one day. That is when I first learned about the fact that Los Algodones, aka "Molar city" is where a significant number of Canadians and Americans go to in order to get any dental work that they need done. This fact was confirmed to me again when I arrived here in Yuma by my Dawson friends. Plenty of testimonials to say that they were all happy with their Mexican dentist. So, armed with this information, and because I had two fillings that had come out, I made my first journey across the border. Now of course, I am no dentist, but even I could tell by looking at the photos of the two teeth concerned, that just replacing fillings wasn't going to solve the problem. I, like many of my baby boomer friends, have plenty of teeth that are more metal than tooth at this stage of the game in life. So the prognosis was that in order to do a proper repair, I was now faced with getting two root canals, a procedure that I had never experienced before.
Well, more appointments were made and the long and the short of it is that I have now had one and a half root canals completed as well as a procedure called crown lengthening done where the gums around the tooth in question are cut back to help facilitate the proper mounting of the crown later on. The reason for the half root canal, is that the tooth had an infection, so I am currently on antibiotics to get rid of that, and I will return for the completion of that procedure later this month. Once that is done, then I will be measured up for two new crowns, and then it will all be done, and hopefully that will give me a happy mouth that doesn't ache for some time into the future.
Now, circling back to the earlier part of the story regarding the language issue. It has been an interesting experience to be in a dentist's chair while he works away at his craft, in my mouth, and during the procedure he will talk now and again to his assistant. What are they talking about? It's anyone's guess. I have to assume that it's all related to what is happening right then and there, but because I don't speak the language, I guess they could be having a conversation about the weather, or last night's dinner, or the news, or lottery tickets, or whatever, and I wouldn't be the wiser. Where is my Spanish speaking friend Ted, when I need him? The bottom line though, of course, is that I really don't care what they are talking about as long as the work is done properly and that I come away from it all in better shape than when I arrived. But having now spent time with three different doctors, the dentist, the endodontist and the periodontist, I am left feeling confident in their work and I anticipate that this will all soon be behind me.
If there is one good result about all this focus lately on my mouth, it's that I have sort of forgotten about my leg, and what it's been going through. The good news there, is that my daily dog walks with Watson out in the sand dunes just across the road have been very beneficial, and for that I am thankful.
I will be glad when the second root canal is completed which should eliminate the final pain that is still lurking there in the background and once that is done it will be crown time, and then I should be back to some sort of normal. What's normal these days? That's anyone's guess. In the meantime I have to be patient as my mouth heals from all the recent surgery, and for now, I'll be "gumming" it when it comes to the eating department. Thankfully I love oatmeal, and homemade soup, so things shouldn't be too difficult.
Back here in Yuma this morning for the very first time since I arrived, I could see my breath when I walked outside with Watson. The wind is coming out of the north and a look at the satellite map shows a weather system coming all the way down from the Yukon to here. It's my Yukon friends sending me a hello via the jetstream. But the sky here is blue and my mood is up, so life is good.
Happy Trails
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
Many years ago, 1985 to be exact I was standing at the reception desk of a large hotel in Mexico City. With me was a travelling friend, Don. We had only been in Mexico for a couple of days at this point, but on the flight down we had made friends with a young American who happened to be studying in Mexico City and who also happened to be fluent in Spanish. He became our de facto translator and so up to the point of where we now stood, we had managed to dodge the reality that there was a language barrier. Both Don and myself were world travellers and we had always managed to find that in most places there was at least some English spoken. Our translator had now departed, and here we stood at the desk, ready to check in for the night.
Don and Paul: "Hi, we'd like a room for the night please."
Person at reception desk: A BLANK STARE AND SMILE
D&P: This time more slowly. "We'd like a room for the night please."
Desk person: THE SAME BLANK STARE
It was at this point that we both realized that it was time to get out the Spanish/English dictionary so that we could find a few words to help us communicate, and eventually we managed to get a room. Just a little aside, it's always amusing how people tend to talk slower or louder to try and be understood in another language. As if that's going to make any difference. If the person you are speaking to doesn't understand the language, speaking it slowly or shouting at them isn't going to help at all.
But anyway, why am I rambling on about an event that happened so long ago? Well it came to mind because during this past week I have made a couple of trips to a little border town close to Yuma, called Los Algodones. Los Algodones is the northern most town in Mexico and its northeastern tip is the most northern point of Mexico. Another interesting geographical distinction is that if someone were to travel in any of the four cardinal directions from anywhere in Algodones (due north, due east, due south or due west), they would cross a U.S. border. The population is rather small, just over 5000 souls, and as soon as a person crosses over into Algodones, or at least as soon as this person crossed over, there is an immediate feeling of community, with lots of people out on the streets walking here and there or just sitting down and enjoying the day and each other's company. The other thing that is very apparent is the proliferation of dental clinics, and pharmacies which are packed cheek by jowel along all the main roads in town. And this is really where this story is leading to today.
Back in late February of last year, I was having a conversation with the folks in Grand Forks where I was about to start my housesit, and the topic of Yuma came up while we were driving into town one day. That is when I first learned about the fact that Los Algodones, aka "Molar city" is where a significant number of Canadians and Americans go to in order to get any dental work that they need done. This fact was confirmed to me again when I arrived here in Yuma by my Dawson friends. Plenty of testimonials to say that they were all happy with their Mexican dentist. So, armed with this information, and because I had two fillings that had come out, I made my first journey across the border. Now of course, I am no dentist, but even I could tell by looking at the photos of the two teeth concerned, that just replacing fillings wasn't going to solve the problem. I, like many of my baby boomer friends, have plenty of teeth that are more metal than tooth at this stage of the game in life. So the prognosis was that in order to do a proper repair, I was now faced with getting two root canals, a procedure that I had never experienced before.
Well, more appointments were made and the long and the short of it is that I have now had one and a half root canals completed as well as a procedure called crown lengthening done where the gums around the tooth in question are cut back to help facilitate the proper mounting of the crown later on. The reason for the half root canal, is that the tooth had an infection, so I am currently on antibiotics to get rid of that, and I will return for the completion of that procedure later this month. Once that is done, then I will be measured up for two new crowns, and then it will all be done, and hopefully that will give me a happy mouth that doesn't ache for some time into the future.
Now, circling back to the earlier part of the story regarding the language issue. It has been an interesting experience to be in a dentist's chair while he works away at his craft, in my mouth, and during the procedure he will talk now and again to his assistant. What are they talking about? It's anyone's guess. I have to assume that it's all related to what is happening right then and there, but because I don't speak the language, I guess they could be having a conversation about the weather, or last night's dinner, or the news, or lottery tickets, or whatever, and I wouldn't be the wiser. Where is my Spanish speaking friend Ted, when I need him? The bottom line though, of course, is that I really don't care what they are talking about as long as the work is done properly and that I come away from it all in better shape than when I arrived. But having now spent time with three different doctors, the dentist, the endodontist and the periodontist, I am left feeling confident in their work and I anticipate that this will all soon be behind me.
If there is one good result about all this focus lately on my mouth, it's that I have sort of forgotten about my leg, and what it's been going through. The good news there, is that my daily dog walks with Watson out in the sand dunes just across the road have been very beneficial, and for that I am thankful.
I will be glad when the second root canal is completed which should eliminate the final pain that is still lurking there in the background and once that is done it will be crown time, and then I should be back to some sort of normal. What's normal these days? That's anyone's guess. In the meantime I have to be patient as my mouth heals from all the recent surgery, and for now, I'll be "gumming" it when it comes to the eating department. Thankfully I love oatmeal, and homemade soup, so things shouldn't be too difficult.
Back here in Yuma this morning for the very first time since I arrived, I could see my breath when I walked outside with Watson. The wind is coming out of the north and a look at the satellite map shows a weather system coming all the way down from the Yukon to here. It's my Yukon friends sending me a hello via the jetstream. But the sky here is blue and my mood is up, so life is good.
Happy Trails
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
Monday, January 7, 2013
YUMA, OLD FOLKS AND THE DESERT
POST # 56
It's mid morning and here I sit at a blank page on my computer screen pondering what to write about today, for the first blog of the new year of 2013. Lately it seems that I have this blank space in my brain when it comes to writing anything, and for friends and family who haven't been getting any regular emails from me, I am quite sure that they would agree that my words have been anything but prolific at the moment.
The strange part about this, is that I have been thinking up a storm lately, so there is plenty of brain activity going on, however it doesn't seem to want to translate itself to the written word. In spite of this, I will attempt to cobble together a few thoughts of what's been happening here around Yuma.
Around Yuma. To be specific, I am living in Yuma East Estates, "a planned over 55 community" as the sign at the end of the road tells me. So I have made the cut by a couple of years but I think the sign should have said " a planned grey haired community." As I stroll around the neighbourhood I get the feeling that I am one of, if not the youngest inhabitant of this over 55 community. Note to self. If I am ever feeling old, all I need to do is come to Yuma for a while and have a look around at the other folks inhabiting this town, and I will come away with a renewed sense of youthfulness.
Now don't get me wrong. I love older people, but it just feels a bit strange to be surrounded by them wherever I go lately. But it's all relative isn't it? If I were to go and walk around a university campus, I would be the old guy. I think I prefer this option for now.
One of the walks that Watson the dog and I like to go on takes us over to the local grocery store which is about a ten minute stroll from the house. Now when I say grocery store, it might sound like a small corner store, but it is nothing of the sort. It's called Fry's but maybe it should be called Big's as it is one of the largest grocery stores I've shopped in on my travels. Because of the size of the place it comes complete with the oversized parking lot to accomodate all the SUV loving snow birds and locals. Watson and I have found a bench that is out front of the store which offers us a place to rest and soak up the Arizona winter sunshine, and as we do this, we get to people watch. BIG, SLOW AND OLD,are the three words that come to my mind as I survey the shoppers coming and going. But they are all certainly very friendly especially because of the fact that I have my little dog buddy right next to me. In the short time I've been here in Yuma I've heard a variety of Boston Terrier related stories from the various folks who stop to have a chat and a pat with us. Watson enjoys meeting new people especially the ones who own dogs, and I can tell that, before they even tell me they are pet owners because Watson is sniffing like crazy around their feet and legs. I would be totally content to sit here watching people for a long long time, but Mr. Bonehead gets a bit antsy and before too long we are headed back across the sand dunes towards home. This is a journey that I could not have accomplished even a few short weeks ago, due to the uneven soft ground, however now it seems to be one of the best therapies for my leg, and I relish the opportunity to meander my way back home, keeping in mind that there may be scorpions lurking around the next sand dune. Watson is happy because there are plenty of bushes for him to sniff and pee upon and leave his calling card.
Getting back to that parkiing lot at Fry's for just a moment. One would be hard pressed to know just where you were living by surveying the variety of license plates attached to the cars there. Arizona would be the last place you would think of. B.C, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the main ones from north of the border and then there are also plenty of Washington, N. Dakota, and Minnesota plates as well. In fact the other day when we were sitting there, a van pulled up to load groceries, and I noticed the plate was from Alberta. I asked the lady where in Alberta she was from and she mentioned Lacombe. When I told her that I used to live just down the road in Blackfalds, she was quite amazed. Such a small world after all. It's taken me over three decades to finally work out where all the central Alberta farmers disappeared to every winter. Now I know.
Another walk that Watson and I take is just down at the end of my street and is another patch of open desert stuck right here in suburbia. Or maybe it should be said that suburbia is stuck right here in the middle of the desert. We take this walk sometime after 5pm but the time has been changing a small amount as the days go by and now continue to get longer. The purpose for this walk aside from the above mentioned benefits, to my leg and Watson's nose, is to be outside when the sun is setting. Surrounded as we are with such a flat landscape, the sun grows very large and orange just prior to setting and the result has a magnifcent effect on the hills just to the east of our location, as they turn a variety of colours. We do this walk every day and I never tire of the view. There is something special about the desert, and there are moments when I am standing out there both in the daylight and at night when I imagine that I am back in the Australian outback. The night sky is particularly wonderful, as I gaze up into the darkness and identify the various constellations. No Southern Cross here, but if I wait long enough into the evening, the Big Dipper eventually rises above the northern horizon.
By the time the Big Dipper has made its appearance, the hour is late. It's then time to take Watson out for his pre beddy bye pee, and it gives me one last chance to stare skyward and put all my small problems aside as I contemplate my insignificance in the greater scheme of things. I head inside, happy to have spent another day and always thankful for the many blessings my life is filled with.
The journey continues.
Happy Trails,
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
It's mid morning and here I sit at a blank page on my computer screen pondering what to write about today, for the first blog of the new year of 2013. Lately it seems that I have this blank space in my brain when it comes to writing anything, and for friends and family who haven't been getting any regular emails from me, I am quite sure that they would agree that my words have been anything but prolific at the moment.
The strange part about this, is that I have been thinking up a storm lately, so there is plenty of brain activity going on, however it doesn't seem to want to translate itself to the written word. In spite of this, I will attempt to cobble together a few thoughts of what's been happening here around Yuma.
Around Yuma. To be specific, I am living in Yuma East Estates, "a planned over 55 community" as the sign at the end of the road tells me. So I have made the cut by a couple of years but I think the sign should have said " a planned grey haired community." As I stroll around the neighbourhood I get the feeling that I am one of, if not the youngest inhabitant of this over 55 community. Note to self. If I am ever feeling old, all I need to do is come to Yuma for a while and have a look around at the other folks inhabiting this town, and I will come away with a renewed sense of youthfulness.
Now don't get me wrong. I love older people, but it just feels a bit strange to be surrounded by them wherever I go lately. But it's all relative isn't it? If I were to go and walk around a university campus, I would be the old guy. I think I prefer this option for now.
One of the walks that Watson the dog and I like to go on takes us over to the local grocery store which is about a ten minute stroll from the house. Now when I say grocery store, it might sound like a small corner store, but it is nothing of the sort. It's called Fry's but maybe it should be called Big's as it is one of the largest grocery stores I've shopped in on my travels. Because of the size of the place it comes complete with the oversized parking lot to accomodate all the SUV loving snow birds and locals. Watson and I have found a bench that is out front of the store which offers us a place to rest and soak up the Arizona winter sunshine, and as we do this, we get to people watch. BIG, SLOW AND OLD,are the three words that come to my mind as I survey the shoppers coming and going. But they are all certainly very friendly especially because of the fact that I have my little dog buddy right next to me. In the short time I've been here in Yuma I've heard a variety of Boston Terrier related stories from the various folks who stop to have a chat and a pat with us. Watson enjoys meeting new people especially the ones who own dogs, and I can tell that, before they even tell me they are pet owners because Watson is sniffing like crazy around their feet and legs. I would be totally content to sit here watching people for a long long time, but Mr. Bonehead gets a bit antsy and before too long we are headed back across the sand dunes towards home. This is a journey that I could not have accomplished even a few short weeks ago, due to the uneven soft ground, however now it seems to be one of the best therapies for my leg, and I relish the opportunity to meander my way back home, keeping in mind that there may be scorpions lurking around the next sand dune. Watson is happy because there are plenty of bushes for him to sniff and pee upon and leave his calling card.
Getting back to that parkiing lot at Fry's for just a moment. One would be hard pressed to know just where you were living by surveying the variety of license plates attached to the cars there. Arizona would be the last place you would think of. B.C, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the main ones from north of the border and then there are also plenty of Washington, N. Dakota, and Minnesota plates as well. In fact the other day when we were sitting there, a van pulled up to load groceries, and I noticed the plate was from Alberta. I asked the lady where in Alberta she was from and she mentioned Lacombe. When I told her that I used to live just down the road in Blackfalds, she was quite amazed. Such a small world after all. It's taken me over three decades to finally work out where all the central Alberta farmers disappeared to every winter. Now I know.
Another walk that Watson and I take is just down at the end of my street and is another patch of open desert stuck right here in suburbia. Or maybe it should be said that suburbia is stuck right here in the middle of the desert. We take this walk sometime after 5pm but the time has been changing a small amount as the days go by and now continue to get longer. The purpose for this walk aside from the above mentioned benefits, to my leg and Watson's nose, is to be outside when the sun is setting. Surrounded as we are with such a flat landscape, the sun grows very large and orange just prior to setting and the result has a magnifcent effect on the hills just to the east of our location, as they turn a variety of colours. We do this walk every day and I never tire of the view. There is something special about the desert, and there are moments when I am standing out there both in the daylight and at night when I imagine that I am back in the Australian outback. The night sky is particularly wonderful, as I gaze up into the darkness and identify the various constellations. No Southern Cross here, but if I wait long enough into the evening, the Big Dipper eventually rises above the northern horizon.
By the time the Big Dipper has made its appearance, the hour is late. It's then time to take Watson out for his pre beddy bye pee, and it gives me one last chance to stare skyward and put all my small problems aside as I contemplate my insignificance in the greater scheme of things. I head inside, happy to have spent another day and always thankful for the many blessings my life is filled with.
The journey continues.
Happy Trails,
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
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