Oh, it has been a long time. Lots of reasons. Most of them focused on time when the real culprit is will. I've been in an inward facing period, deep in thought, Much has changed and nothing has changed. The garden went unweeded from April to yesterday. But now having weeded (almost) half the garden and paying the price in my aging joints, I am here at the computer, keys at the ready, trying to figure out how and where to start. OK, vacation. That'll do.
I spent a week in July in Idaho and Wyoming, visiting Grand Teton National Park with cousin J. It is hard for me to believe that I have reached this advanced age without ever seeing our national parks. It is of course beautiful country - huge, majestic, healing. I had been quite sick in the weeks before the trip so the renewing and healing energy of our hikes was palpable. I could feel my energy returning a little bit each day, and the wildflowers, vistas, sun and dry breezes did the rest.
We hiked to Inspiration Point above Lake Jenny and to Taggart Lake where I cooled my feet in the icy mountain water.
We went on a wildlife tour at dawn one day and saw moose grazing by the streams, bison, eagles, marmot, prong horned deer, cranes, and more. We learned about the history of the bison in North America including their near extinction as our ever-thoughtful government promoted and provided ammunition for their wholesale slaughter in the hope of starving out the Indians by eliminating their main source of nutrition. And we saw a 'wildlife meets man' drama unfold.
Our very knowledgeable guide slowly drove us through the park, searching for wildlife along the streams and gullys so that we could pull over and walk in to get close enough - but with a respectful distance - to see the amazing population of Grand Teton National Park. As we made out way, two cars came in the opposite direction going quite fast - too fast - and in their wake appeared a baby moose, clearly startled and frightened out of its mind. It was galloping down the road as fast as its legs could manage, eyes bulging and filled with terror - an expression understood by parents of any species - crying out in fear and panic. The youngster was followed by its mother, a beautiful female running and calling after her baby. Female moose raise a baby only once every two years, our guide told us, so the bond between mother and baby is very tight. The baby continued to gallop down the road, but the mother ducked into the woods for safety. We sat by the side of the road, engine off, hoping not to add to their misery and confusion. Minutes later mama moose emerged into a clearing with her ears back and fluttering in distress, searching and calling for her baby. Her calls were heartbreaking, high pitched long quavering calls. She circled larger and larger areas, calling and twitching her ears, listening for her baby's calls. Moose have incredibly acute hearing and it is likely that they found each other, but I found tears rolling down my face as we slowly drove away.
We later stopped by a group of bison grazing in an open field. Unbelievably huge, muscular, cranky animals. The boss bison - the single male - decided it was time to cross to the other side of the road and his harem and their babies followed him slowly, with a relunctant old female bringing up the rear. You could almost hear her saying, "Oy vey. Again we have to cross the road?" So we learned that bison do cross the road, but we still don't know why. Sorry.
