Durango's River Trail

Zane and I had a busy, yet relaxing day today. One of the highlights was walking (me)/strolling (Zane) Durango’s Animas River Trail. It is a wonderful place to bike—or walk. It stretches seven miles through the town, running alongside both the river and the Narrow Gauge Railroad tracks. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see as much of it as would have liked because we had a late start. 

After dropping J off at school, Zane and I went to a volunteer breakfast/appreciation at the school. Zane didn’t do any volunteering this year. But since it was his day off from school, he went along for the ride. All in all, he was pretty good (i.e., keeping the noise level to a minimum). J’s class came in with a presentation of thanks to the parents who helped in his class. I had been there some Mondays and nearly every Friday helping the kids with Writers’ Workshop. I just adore all of them. Third grade rocks! I suppose I need to change my mantra for next year to fourth grade rocks…hmmm.

After the breakfast, Zane and I did the whole car wash thing. I tried to get the tree sap off with little success. Then we headed over to the Animas River Trail. (Pics below). The temperatures were ideal, and Zane sang the entire way. Plus, he kept his shoes on for the whole walk, which is quite miraculous given the fact that he kicks them off (along with his socks) at just about any chance he gets. 

We attempted to visit a friend on our way back home, but had to ditch the plan to meet the wheelchair guy (wheelchair guy not being his actual name) back at the house. He has some new laterals for Zane’s wheelchair. 

Anyway…the pics. Zane and I plan to go back later this week with my better camera, a little more sunscreen, and extra time. J wants to bike the trail this weekend after his baseball game, but I think we can only manage to fit J's bike in the car (no bike carriers to speak of here). So Zane I will try to keep up with J on foot. It should be interesting J

Rocks made by some of the third graders. J's is the middle one. 

Contemplative Zane or Flipping-off Zane. You decide. 

Happy boy!

Trying to touch the camera...because that's what he does. 

Ahhh...tulips at the gazebo. The deer pulled out all my bulbs last year, so I appreciated seeing them along the trail today.

Ever been on the Animas River Trail? If not...you should!

Baseball Part I

It is baseball season, indeed. The weather finally took a nice turn late this week. Justin and his fellow players had a skills day with the high school team last week when the temps were bitterly cold and the winds were quite wicked.

Today it was a beautiful 64 degrees. We ventured out to watch the Bayfield Wolverines play (the high school baseball team). Justin’s coach wanted the kids to watch their star pitcher who—rumor has it—is being scouted by the Majors.

Justin hung out with a friend, and Zane hung out with…me. He was a great sport about the whole thing, especially since I stood in front of him, blocking his view, to prevent him from getting beaned by a foul ball. He managed to steer clear of the balls; the cars in the parking lot were not so fortunate.

J gets to play his first scrimmage game this Wednesday in Bayfield. Then the game season starts on May 4^th in Durango. I have signed up to be scorekeeper again, which will be a bit of a challenge while watching Zane. I may have to train someone as my backup. Though keeping score is a great way to focus on the game versus chatting it up with the other parents.

Here are a few photos from today:

Sitting in the outfield. We eventually moved closer to the batter. 

Trying not to be bored, especially with mom blocking his view. (The hood is on because I don't have the hardware to attach his canopy). 

Fear of Clowns...and Birthdays

My birthday is next week, and I’m starting to think that it’s not really a festive day. At least not since moving to Colorado.

One year as I was showering for my upcoming party, Justin rushed into the bathroom after swallowing and choking on a metal ball. This resulted in a 911 call and a trip to the ER—just before the party guests arrived. Fortunately, his airway wasn’t blocked, he was ultimately okay, and the party went on as planned.

Then on my birthday in both 2011 and 2012, Zane had to go to the ER for his own medical issues, which were minor in the end.  

I used to love birthdays: a day being all about me (something that is very infrequent in the life of a mother). Plus there are usually presents…and cake! The clowns can stay at the door. We’re not big fans of clowns around here, and J is actually afraid of them (no offense to any clowns who happen to read this). So anymore, I just want the day to be over without incident.

I’m sending out positive energy for an uneventful day next week. Mostly, the boys and I will spend the evening at the baseball field anyway. Let’s just hope there are zero injuries that night, no 911 calls, and absolutely no trips to the ER! 

The Memoir

As many of you may know, I have written a book about our yearlong road trip back in 2006-2007. About a year and a half ago, I submitted it to a publisher who requested the full manuscript. After completing the read, the publisher/editor called to give me feedback. The main gist of her idea was to make the marriage be the main storyline and have the travel element (our visit to all the National Parks in the lower 48) be secondary, with Zane carrying the tertiary storyline. Doing it required a complete rewrite.

Obviously, I didn’t get to work on it right away. Instead, I focused on my fiction writing and self-publishing ventures. Well, I just completed another YA novel (which I love dearly), so I thought it was time to return to Our Life on the Road.

After a year and a half of thought, I decided I do not want the marriage front and center in the story. I like the travel component as the focus. Don’t get me wrong, the editor is 100% right. In order to appeal to a broader audience, I need to do what she suggested. In fact, she said if I write primarily about the marriage, then I won’t need her any longer; I’ll want a big NY agent. While that’s appealing on so many levels, it’s not the book I want to write.

So I’ve reached a compromise. Instead of turning the book into the ups and downs of my marriage, I’ve decided to simply strengthen that part of the book while maintaining travel as the focus.

I’ve been working on Our Life on the Road this past week at the library off and on. I am less likely to surf the Internet when I’m out in the world, working. I am 1/5 of the way into the rewrites/edits, maintaining a good portion of the original work. My goal is to finish by the end of May in order to shop it around to agents.

Since it appears I will be working full-time in the fall and going back to school to get my certificate in Special Education, writing will likely fade into the background for a while.  Thus, the need to have a strict writing schedule for the next several months.

Anyway, here are a few photos from our life on the road. And, if you didn’t know, Jeff has a website dedicated to the trip, aptly entitled Our Life on the Road. 

Justin at Grand Teton NP

(he was two, so I'm technically not breaking his "no pics" rule. I consider this one a grandfathered photo)

Justin and I goofing around at Yellowstone.

Gavage feeding at Arches. I so do not miss those days. Zaner still does the fingers-in-the-mouth thing. 

Miss You, Sara

Today marks the two-year anniversary of my sister-in-law Sara’s tragic and untimely death. She was a phenomenal aunt to my two sons, the sister I never had, and a healing and caring soul to all she touched. She is missed every day.

Since I was young, this poem by Henry Scott Holland always resonated with me. I read it at Sara’s memorial. I miss her every day.

  

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped away into the next room.

Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.

Wear no forced airs of solemnity or sorrow.

Life means all that it ever meant.

Speak of me in the same easy way you always did.

Laugh, as we always laughed, at the little jokes we shared together.

Think of me and smile.

Why should I be out of mind only because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you - for an interval--somewhere very near.

All is well.

Love you, sis. I hope to see you again someday.