Rawhide

Rawhide takes on a whole new meaning when you live in the mountains.

Now I know to some, the world ‘rawhide’ conjures up old TV shows, saddles, or lampshades, but in my case I am talking about the phenomenon that occurs when you decide to ride your bike along mountain trails several days in a row after nearly a year break.

I know we have all been thinking it; “thank goodness it’s finally summer", and I get that, I am just saying pace yourself.

I see some of your looks when McGyver, Samson and I ride by with our biking accessories, “but I am too happy to care. A mama needs to be able to have one or two things left to strap her toddler into so she can have a few calm moments to enjoy her surroundings, take time off from playing a defensive lineman 24 / 7 tackling her son minutes before he has found danger, and revisit the possibility of finding her old body again.

When you allow us those three simple pleasures, the world is a better place for everyone.

So even though my tush might be smarting a bit, something wonderful happens to me each time I mount my bike that make is all worth it.

As the pedals maketheir firstfull rotation, I revert back in time to when I was a young tomboy, and watch as the projector screen in my mind replays ‘The Best of Biking Clips' from then until now.

I ‘get’ the winters in the mountains, but I wait for summer with the same anticipation I used to have waiting to lickthe batter from the mixer when my mom was baking. And even if it made me a little sick, I licked the beaters dry because I knew it might be some time before I could do it again.


Yes, enjoying the moment is important, we hear that nearly every day now, and while it is definitely true, I must also fess up that this impromptu tribute to my bike may have a little to do with some residual guilt having almost betrayed her this winter.

I am a little ashamed, so I won’t admit this again if you ask, but I did consider purchasing a Nintendo Wii Fitin March. (In my defense, the long winter nearly robbed me of my sanity).

Now I know that my bike, Gabi,would have understood since I could not ride her in the snow, but I still feel a little dirty having even considering such an act of treason.

Thankfully something in the pit of my stomach told me it was wrong to buy a video game that simulates exercise when I live in the mountains steps from walking, hiking and biking trails, kayaking, boating, skiing, and all things geared towards outdoor recreation.

Still, trying hard not to be called a hypocrite one day (since that seems to be everyone's buzz word thissummer whenanyone says anything.),just in case the winters continue to be brutal and one day you do see a Nintendo Wii Fit at our house, just know that I held as long as I could so that Gabi could continue being treated in the fashion that she is accustomed to. . .

and that in my heart I know that she is the only one who gives me a true raw hide, black hands, broken chains and all the good things of which great memories are made.

I might be a snob

I went to the book sale at the library last night despite the fact that Leo told me it would likely be a waste of time, and I had my own misgivings and thoughts that he might be correct.

I do not mean to judge my sweet little town of 1700 residents who for the most part drive pick up trucks and are a mix of locals who have never left, and others who migrated as fishing, hunting, boating or ski bums and stayed because the land is stunning…

……but I do confess that I have on occasion.

When we moved here a little over a year ago, naturally we researched the demographics a little and interviewed folks we met to get a temperature read on our new neighbors and friends to be.

We were told that the town was heavily Republican with little diversity and a touch of a Mafioso Machismo, and we heard grumblings about the weekenders (which we had just graduated from being) and second home owners.

In the past year we have watched as many of our neighbors have fought amongst each other, a long time local tried to cut down new development signs with his chainsaw (where I used to work)… (FYI, his conversation of his plans to do so were overheard, so I know that someone knows who he, is, but that person will not say who he is)…

… and when you follow the news, some of the nearby towns have stories of folks bulldozing their town, electing and then overthrowing an x-stripper as mayor, and hosting a yearly testicle festival.

Not that any of that gives you the full picture of course, but it does paint an interesting backdrop, give me good writing material, and it may affect the books you think that you will find at the local book sale.

I thought that I would find books on fixing your truck or tractor, unimaginative cookbooks focusing on fried foods, old frontier and anti-change stories of how things were better back in the day, books on motor boating, brewing your own beer, and a few hunting, fishing and crafting books….

…But what I found instead made me take a step back and smile with pride feeling redeemed by my fellow man and townsmen.

I saw classics by Hemmingway, biographies by past politicians and policy makers on both sides of the political fence, HGTV books on interior design, modern healthy cooking, US and World history books, numerous books in other languages, national geographic videos and documentaries on interesting subjects, writing instruction books, and even a few on the new ‘safe occult topics’ these days. (Yummy for my taste)….And the women whose cart I was raiding unknowingly was even extremely kind when she shooed me away.

I have to say that as each day goes by, the snob in me continues to be put in its place as I continue to explore, find and meet more jewels and interesting folks, and discover the true essence of our town rather than read a few stale facts on an online demographics website, and listen to a few folks who probably complain about everything anyway.

Today's View

Sailing on Ceremony

My husband is no longer allowed to make fun of me for my woo woo ways.

Last night on our dock with our neighbors, he performed a boat re-naming ceremony, blessing the G-ds, throwing cups of champagne in all 4 compass directions to ensure protection and safety for us in our travels, toasting me as his first mate, and Isaac as second mate, and then our neighbors jumped in to toast us and the boat. Apparently re-naming a boat has many superstitions surrounded it, so it has to be done in a very specific way and I have to say, that Leo did a wonderful job as the boat rabbi.

Thankfully we also have one neighbor who is very knowledgeable and sticks to the script verbatim. He is one of those neighbors you are glad is there with you to shed light on the situation and bring order to chaos, unless you are at an HOA meeting and you want the meeting to only last an hour. But Rob made sure that we all took it very seriously, he even brought a camera to commemorate the occasion which I loved and appreciated.   But the best part was Isaac throwing his beloved pacifier in the water after seeing his Papa's ceremony and wanting to do his part.

Adrianna is a beautiful boat, and she seems even more resilient with her new name. Wish us safe travels and good luck with the sailing G-d’s, and please email info on the importance of leaving the boat as it is after the re-naming ceremony so I can convince Leo that he does not need to clean the sticky, champagne-drenched bow. I would like to actually get Leo, Isaac and I out on the boat tonight for Father’s Day.

Papa the sailor man