I’ve said it twice and it’s only 10:30. I woke to the wide open sky and sun rise. The desert air is so refreshing. Madigan was adorable to greet. He squirms standing on his two back feet his front feet on my chest . I rub his back and all is right with the world.
After I’d dressed and meditated 10 minutes, maybe 15 I took him for a walk. There is cement around the pools and building complex but gravel roads between the sites. A water truck goes by wetting the road so dust doesn’t blow about. There isn’t any wind to speak of this morning but last night I had to work at keep the barbecue lit to cook the pork chops. It really is idyllic here. The resort is on the side of small mountain so we’re all elevated above the plain that surrounds the Salton Sea.
There’s a coffee shop in the complex. It’s actually a grill and serves burgers and things as well. It wasn’t open yet at 7 30 when we were out. A few other dog walkers were out. We met with one poodle and his master. Last night Madigan met a young shepherd with his master who had a European accent. A few sites over there’s another small poodle and Madigan’s did an unscheduled dash and sniff once as we were coming out of the camper.
Past the coffee shop where they had dancing in the street last night with a DJ, a regular Friday night occurrence according to an activity schedule I saw on the notice board, there was a road leading to the desert wilderness with roads and trails. A sign said it was open for multi- use and a no vehicle sign was along the path we took.
I let Madigan run off leash and was thankful he stayed close not ranging on ahead like he can sometimes. It’s all very strange. Desert foliage and cacti and prickly things. I confess I was worried about snakes, specifically rattlers and worried his curiosity would get the better of him in an ancounter. I felt that I had my letterman tool on my belt and picked up a rock just in case. Apparently with urgent accesss to anti venom dogs survive. I miss my cat because they’re actually more likely to win against the snake. I’ve had previous cats who were best of pals with my dogs and could imagine these sisters helping the guys. For now I had a rock and was glad that Madigan was being cautious. I miss having a rifle or pistol. A 22 pistol would give me a whole lot more peace of mind. However I just prayed continuously for Madigan’s safety and didn’t think of snakes knowing that the law of attraction makes that an invitation. ‘All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Worrying is wicked. Do no be afraid. Focus on the positive. I did enjoy the healthy walk and return to safety along with seeing several new birds.
I never saw a snake thankfully in Winterhaven but a woman in the dog park told us how her dog had scared a big one up the gravel pit they were walking along. That was enough for my Steven King twisted mind. I also have a kind of longing to take a picture of wild things but not if the encounter threatens my fur baby Madigan. He’s such a happy go lucky spoiled little baby who has selective hearing loss especially around other dogs and I’d worry he might not come when I called him if we encountered prehistoric saver tooth tigers in the desert and I wanted him at myself so I could protect us with my rock and leatherman multi tool.
I was back in time for a delicious coffee and a virtual meeting of cyber docs. I do like the group and shared my appreciation of them and that’s when I first said I felt I was in heaven. I’d been feeling low leaving Winterhaven only to arrive here at the Fountain of Youth where I believed the waters already were having their effect. The fact is my lower back that balks now at gravity is feeling so much better.
The group laughed with me and I got to share my grand marnier dream, the taste and my awakening to the seduction. Another shared how they’d had similar experiences on to awake and be thankful it was a dream. It was 26 years ago and the dental work and whatever opened this channel reminding me how deep seated this all is, trauma responses and the positive gratification memories without the consequences unless we share and are reminded.
I changed and leaving Madigan with a fresh bone walked overt the the pools. After showering I settled into Lobster Pit whee an older couple already were turning red. I said, “I fell like I’m in heaven.” “Yes, ‘ the woman answered and the man studied me like a peculiar thing. “I normally associate hot with the other place but coming down here from the north and getting into these pools I really think I’m in heaven.” They left shortly after that. Clearly conversation of any sort that early in the morning wasn’t what they were in the hot tub for. I didn’t speak any more but decided that just like I didn’t want to go to a heaven without dogs and cats I’d not want to go to a heaven without swirling mineral hot springs.
I enjoyed watching the sparrows flitting about in the bark of the palm trees. The coos of the mourning doves from higher in the tree were sweet indeed.
I only last some 15 minutes in the Lobster Pit. There were at most a dozen people spread out among chairs and different pools in couples or alone. I enjoy considering the ‘types’. Lean hiker health couples under 50 , some old white heaired somewhat plump hippy type, may early retired .com millionaires. Fat and fatter couples who we might stereotype as mid west vacationers. I love the Paul Simon Song about a couple gone off to search for america , playing games with the faces and making up identities. I suppose I do and would like to do it more. Laura and I sometimes play the games. There’s so much variety here and I expect that’s the proximity to LA as well as this being a wonderful travellers destination. I expect there’s a very different sort at the golf RV sites. I’m definitely one of these hot springs sorts. I love to “take the waters’. So no doubt there are a lot here with arthritis, rheumatism and old traumatic injuries.
I tried the pure mineral bath tub soaks with a tub and cold and natural water flows. The hot water comes in at 120 direct from the Artesian water system. It was indeed heavenly. I just keep feeling the tension and pain in my lower back releasing and healing.
I climbed out of the tub and coming out the that building there was beautiful slim older woman smiling. I’d seen her earlier walking carefully to the recliner she was now sitting on.
“I always smile seeing people come out of those tubs. They remind me of my grand children wakening and their bodies aren’t quite working right”.
I laughed in response ,”My body feels like jello and hasn’t come to terms with gravity.”
I showered and returned to Madigan who was happy to see me and looking forward to our next outing. I’m thinking of downloading the Vespa. I could walk him over toe the cafe. It’s nearly lunch time and I could make a sandwich. The challenges and considerations are many. My routine is to walk him 3 or 4 times a day so I expect I’ll add the trips to the hot spring to that. Tonight they have a band playing Stevie Nicks covers .I’ll definitely go and listen to that leaving him behind. My neighbours invited me to come along with them to the dancing last night but I was barbecuing. Madigan was glad I stayed and watched tv and share pork chops with him. The tv was dull like it is often. The Sword of Honor movie based on an Evelyn Waugh book starring Dainiel Craig was the last really good movie I’ve seen. Often I just watch an old NCIS. I should be watching comedy but normally turn to action and thrillers. For a while there I was enjoying the westerns. I take the tv off the wall and set it up to watch for diner and then put it back on the bed room wall before bed.
Vespa download. I want to explore Bombay Beach sometime.
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