There were cows at the campsite when I arrived last night. They left, but I could hear mooing and other noises around me, echoing in the canyons. After I went to the tent for the night, more cows wandered into the site. I could hear wet chewing, and I could hear them moving around. It was kind of comforting, because a bear would surely go for them over me. When I got up in the night to pee, I could see at least three pairs of eyes in the trees that were most likely cows.
I ended up going on a 4.5 mile hike after I got up, ate breakfast, and put the tent away. The air up there was clearer, but not clear. I couldn’t see the Wallowas at all, and closer peaks were shrouded in haze.
On the way home, I stopped at the grocery store for muffin liners. As I was leaving, I saw a friend from choir over by the museum, so I went over to say hello. I got some good hugs when I told her what day it was. And even before that, because she’s a good friend like that. It was providential to see her today of all days. Though I’d probably see more people if I wasn’t working from 8 to 5 every weekday.
I made three phone calls after I got home. One to set up a consultation with a GI doctor, one to my neighbor to ask if he was going to the transfer station today and if I could come with, and one to a friend to chat. My neighbor had been planning to go to the transfer station today and agreed to let me tag along with him and his dog, Anya, who I got to pet. She licked me quite a bit as well, as is her wont. I had more trash than usual, plus some bags of weeds and that fan that I took down from my living room. They cut the electrical cord off it before we trashed it, presumably to make use of the copper.
I went to the hot springs for the 4 to 6 timeslot. I had good chats with the proprietor and manager, and then had good conversation in the hot tub with some regulars. I had pasta for dinner and spent the evening relaxing. Back to work tomorrow. I’m glad I took this day to celebrate the day that I met an incredible man. The day that he met an incredible woman. The day, perhaps, that his happily ever after began.
