On Being a Risk-Taker

A few months ago, back in December, I received an email I wasn’t expecting. It said “Gretchen, Thank you for registering for the 2017 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.” And as I was reading this unbidden missive, I received a telephone call. My phone told me it was my best friend Stephanie. Suspicious these things were related, I answered with some trepidation.  “I registered us for the Iron Horse,” she said. “I thought it’s something we would never do, so I thought we should do it.”

This is her way, to compete with and challenge herself. To take herself out of her comfort zone and grow her experiences and strength. It is not necessarily my way. My way is about comfort and familiarity. And I like my  way.

For a moment our friendship ties were severed.

Then I came to and realized I like her, I like my town and the people in it who ride this race, and I am a strong badass mother. So I said over a nervous laugh, “Okay. But I don’t have a bike.” “Me either. But there are lots of people who have bikes. We’ll find some.” And so all of a sudden I was training for a 50-mile, 5000-ft-elevation-gain bike slog from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. Aaauugh!!

Fast forward some months and some weekend rides (only one of which made me feel sick and necissitated a soak and a nap) and many bolstering tips from Bill. Now the ride is 4 days away and we have indeed both found bikes to borrow and chamois butters to ease discomfort. I’m alternately terrified, making plans for surrendering on the side of the highway, and confident, visualizing a triumphant coast across the finish line. Whatever happens will happen soon. And if nothing else, I feel like I’ve been a risk-taker just to attempt this already! Aaauugh!!

Summer Tripping

Bisti Badlands – our first dispersed camping try and a huge success! Best activity – digging potties and playing hide and seek among the hoodoos. 

Edge of the Weminuche Wilderness for Father’s Day – a semi-successful campground trip. A warm day and a late night!
Hermosa Watershed area – Another dispersed camping success. Fairy trees, a campfire, wildflower bouquets, and cupcake guns. 

Telluride – 11th wedding anniversary hike-a-palooza. Over Virginius Pass on the way in, over Imogene Pass on the way out. Amazing!

Jersey Jim fire tower – exceptional trip 81 steep steps above the ground. Bugling elk, hovering hummingbirds, a prowling pack of coyotes, and ripe wild strawberries. 
Navajo Lake (Lizardhead Wilderness) – 2-night moms-only backpack. Stunning views and chocolate birthday cake above 13,000 feet. 
A summer of successes!

It Must Be Summer

Today we woke up and headed to higher ground. When it’s more than 90 in town, we prescribe ourselves mountains and trees. 

So we found a lovely forest and someone else’s dog (literally – we named him Johnny) and had a lovely morning hike. 
What to do for the rest of the day? Learn how to make fire without matches, of course!

Bill and I actually got pretty darned close working in tandem. I hope we never need to use this skill! Since it’s one none of us could master!

A Durango Field Day

When I was in elementary school, field day consisted of gathering pledges from soft-hearted relatives and then running laps around the square patch of grass on the playground. I remember a grape popsicle afterwards. 
Here in Durango, Maggie’s school has taken a different approach. During the week, you earn a raffle ticket for each day you walk or ride your bike to school. Then on Friday there’s a big celebration with bike obstacle courses, raffle drawings (cool things like lunch boxes and tennis shoes, but also bikes!), and a bike parade where everybody gets to ride through the school halls and around the neighborhood. It was (barely) maintained chaos, and so much fun!

"Stop Doing That"

It’s 7:15. The girls have been in bed and quiet for almost 30 minutes. (Yes, my children go to bed before 7 PM. Especially on school days. They are completely wasted from the day by then. But they’re awake before 6 AM, so pick your poison.) Bill and I are sitting in front of the last fire of the year, lights dimmed, listening to the crackling of the disappearing logs.

“Stop doing that” emanates ominously from the girls’ bedroom. “Stop doing that” again. Barely a pause before the next “stop doing that” is uttered. Work it out girls; use your polite words and respect each other. “Stop doing that.” Tessa is getting into a rhythm here, and Maggie isn’t even bothering to respond, politely or otherwise.

Alright, let’s nip this in the bud. Don’t want things to get out of hand so “late.” Parental referees (or mediators would be a more optimistic term) are on their way. Tessa is sitting up in bed, practically leaning over Maggie, repeating her ever-more-annoyed “stop doing that.” Maggie, for her part, is spread haphazardly all over her side, a 5-foot stuffed snake wrapped around her neck, snoring like an … like a … well … snoring really loud!

So we perform a snake-ectomy. Maggie doesn’t wake up but shifts in her sleep. The snoring ceases. Tessa is a little miffed that her sister is allowed to bug her in her sleep, but is quickly (mostly) pacified and tucked back in. And the rest of the evening passes peacefully and uneventfully. Just another nightly unadventure in parenting.