Texas Deb Goes to Crested Butte - Day Four
Texas Deb Goes to Crested Butte – Day Four
It’s a funny thing about vacations, or breaks from reality in any form I think, they not only refresh you, they re-energize you and help you to focus on your goals; they center you. I have a tendency to think about all the things I want to change or improve and instead of being worn down by this I am encouraged and energetic.
Allen happened to ask yesterday if this was “as good as San Antonio”.
As good as San Antonio? I had to think a minute to understand what he meant.
While we’ve been away kid free for a night or two here and there, we haven’t had a longer trip together since “San Antonio” which was in 2009. We went to San Antonio before we decided we wanted to try for child number two who is now 8. While that makes me feel a little neglectful in the marriage-work arena, I’m really glad we have this time, it’s been overdue.
Yesterday we hiked around Meridian Lake. Again, the hike started after traipsing over the slick stones in a small creek, in an immediate incline which left me embarrassed and out of breath. Tree roots and stone steps carried us up a few hundred feet to the actual trail. Above us were two excited kids in Crested Butte ball caps, their tan vacationing legs and brightly colored running shoes pumping up the hill in front of us along with presumably their father carrying a paddle board, “Easier to get it up the hill than down!” I heard him tell several people that he passed. I assume he is correct although, I had a hard enough time carrying my own body up the side of that steep hill and it was a lot easier to get myself down.
Once we got there, the lake itself (one of two small bodies of water) was a beautiful, turquoise, oblong jewel, the glistening aqua valley between two steep hills. Along this particular trail were so many wildflowers! They swayed rhythmically with the concert the breeze was playing like we were walking in on their own private concert. Yellow, pale purple, white, blue, all splendidly poised on top of varying shades of green.
Grasshoppers jumped across the narrow path making their “shick-shake” noise and I wondered, once they landed in the grass to resume their singing if they intended to sound like rattlesnakes, well, because they did and that seems like a really good way to ward off their predators!
Across the lake, from one fuzz-grass hill top to another, we spotted a beautiful little antelope minding her own business munching on sage and grass. I love how deer and antelope stop and stare at you, wondering what your next move is, waiting for you to prove friend or foe. I love how they bound up the grassy hills as if their tiny hooves were made of bouncy balls. As a matter of fact, it would be really convenient if I could bound up the hills like that, I know athletic people very much like antelope.
After getting off the trail then rediscovering it, we hiked a little over three miles. About half of that we passed a few people here and there and then the last half we were the only souls we saw. This hike was full of not only flowers but butterflies that landed on the dusty path before me, splayed their beautiful brightly colored wings then, just as I would slow so as not to step on them and perhaps lean down and admire them, they’d flutter off like they were ending the intermission in a concerto, joining the other musicians in their full bodied music.
We came back home feeling relaxed and ate our lunch. I’m a little embarrassed to say the rest of the afternoon was spent lying around on a couch and watching several episodes of The Office, perks of condo vs. camping I guess.
Having devised a plan for our leftover groceries we decided to walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
It’s funny how I used to spend money on fancy(ish) restaurants. When we were looking at places to eat, we both balked at how many dollar signs were assigned to each place, designating how much we might expect to spend there. After having a discussion about how that money is very nearly simply flushed down the toilet we decided on a very reasonable burger place. Iron Horse Tap, inside The Plaza was not only reasonably priced, it was delicious. Anyone who puts a burger, covered with avocado and pepper jack on a fresh made bun is a friend of mine!
I know all of this may sound a little boring but what you have to understand is that the very act of relaxing and “doing nothing” is something we rarely get to do. It feels immensely luxurious simply to lay down of my own accord for a few minutes with the windows open, the mountain breeze fluttering the curtains and blowing over my body. It is incredibly refreshing to actual get to pick a place to go to eat, not fretting too much about the cost because we’re not paying for 5 people and not cautioning my primate children to behave “or else”.
What I have enjoyed the most so far is the hiking.
I’m a bit claustrophobic. In nursing, even surgical masks can bother me because having something on my face makes me feel really closed in. I don’t like elevators, or covering my whole self with my blankets in bed, or caves or even being deep underwater. (Look at that, I’ve given away another one of my weird secrets!) Conversely, it would make sense why being outside, on the side of a mountain, with so much space to breath and roam I could feel so at peace and so invigorated!
Like I said, I realize all of that might not be totally exciting but it is incredibly peaceful and I am so grateful that God gave us this opportunity at just the right time. He has bolstered me and spurned me forward, which is a very clear answer to prayer.
