My Fish is Bigger than Your Fish

Roger and I had our own adventure planned as a final hurrah pre-clinicals starting (about which I am terrified). We rented a barndaminium (after which we will design a future house) on the Dolores River. 

Like Arby's but better. 

 We spent a day at Mesa Verde - a cultural national park that had a feeling of reverence to it unlike anywhere else. We visited what we could (#covid) and were in awe of the awesome cliff dwellings and people who created them. (We did almost die of heat, so we determined to visit the park in full when it re-opens and it’s cloudy). 

Cool stuff. 

Colette took us kayaking in the whitewater of the lower Animas (and gave us some tips for Flagstaff). It was awesome, but we’re gonna have to return to raft the upper Animas when the Silverton train is running again. I also met a guy who lived in France for 6 years, ate the best pizza, visited some shops, and bought 2 gallons of barbecue sauce. 

10/10 would do again. (On bigger rapids for longer times). 

Then I outfished Roger. We went to some nearby lakes and I took out my spin rod with a Panther Martin while he tried to flyfish (with zero success). I caught nine (9) fish - although I did massacre one and blind another. And I felt really bad because poor little Blindy kept swimming around the perimeter and bumping into rocks. 

Dead. 

We practiced some sweet dance moves and Roger made delicious things for dinner (plus watermelon) and had a great time. I dropped him back off at his parents’ house before visiting Hannah & Markies in their new home. ]

Ran into a good friend of ours. 

It’s a sweet setup. And I even had a bed to sleep on! Aurora likes me the best because I fed her half a pack of fruit snacks and watched Emperor’s New Groove with her. (Although she is currently going through a dramatic stage, so I refused to take her home). We watched Hamilton and read books and had a relaxingly good time. So relaxing that I left my BBQ sauce there. 

My bud. 

I enjoyed listening to the Time Machine on the way home and MOVING INTO THE HOUSE once I got there. It’s not nearly done. But it’s close enough that we can live there. We moved stuff all day (and are ALMOST done) and I put on doorknobs and prepped shelves and unpacked what few things I brought with me. 

Passed through Monticello on the way back.
(For the ice cream.)

I was almost mentally prepared to start clinicals, when I found out that it will no longer be possible for me to start on Monday. FML. 

Sandall Hole

I left my car at my future father-in-law’s mission companion’s house (who wasn’t home) and hitched a ride into the Manti-La Sal mountains. Where, you may ask? Great question. It is a heavily guarded secret and they almost blindfolded me, but Roger told them I am too terrible at directions to ever lead anyone there. 

This is it. 

Exhausted, I zombied around for a while until dinner, and eventually bed time. I did manage to set my tent up and locate a book on pirates I was looking forward to. After finally sleeping, I was capable of some actual thought and taught everyone Hand and Foot (since Lauren wouldn’t play with me). It was an instant success. (And rightfully so). 

Tied my first fly. And then made it black. #Aesthetic

We had an important Sacrament meeting with the family and I spent the day playing cards and reading more J Golden Kimball. Classic guy. 

I wanted to take the canoe out, so Roger convinced the crew of a Blue Lake excursion. Stu met us in the quad and after some frustrating fishing (during which we retied lines 6+ times and fish jumped around us), Stu, Stu, Eve, Roger, and I had a campfire with hot dogs. Eve took the quad and we stayed out for some lakeside fishing, which was equally successful (or not). 

Do you think this is pretty? Too bad you can't ever come. 

We played a riotous game of Things at some point, which was very UNLIKE my first time playing and became progressively more inappropriate (despite lil Stu’s presence).

One morning I was bored and antsy, so I took a hike up the hill. It was a pretty walk with tons of blossoming desert flowers and Sound of Music hillsides. Roger was sad I left him behind, so he met me with the quad (with Pip) and we went to the edge of a cliff and he pointed out the cool places I needed to see. 

This was before he tried to teach me to flyfish. 

After lunch, we took our vests and poles and quads and Stu, Stu, Roger, and I tumbled down a steep ravine to get in some good stream fishing (during which I almost killed Roger out of frustration). I did catch some fish once he left me alone. And I even caught one in Lopper Pond. (Which we kept and ate). It was a fun run/hike back, although I was winded and at the extent of my quad strength. 

I ate that. 

Linn and I went for a dip in Julius - which is way icier than it seems and left my arm numb for a good two hours afterwards. She laughed. I went for another hike to pick some wild flowers and warm up my body while Stu, Stu, and Roger restocked the ponds we fished. 

I took a final stroll downstream and saw some cool waterfalls and listened to some nice music. It’s a beautiful place that reminds me of all the paintings Roger has ever done. I love the wildflowers and the sage brush and the scenery, but I miss the vibrant, overwhelming colors of my own home. 

So many colors. 

We tried to get home and broke down a few miles away from Roger’s dad’s mission companion’s house (where my car no longer was due to Kaylee’s having driven it home a few days prior). My AAA service got us a free tow, I finally met Dex (a delightful bald man), and he let us shower and borrow his car. Bless. 

Nuns Look Better Tan (We're Straight)

Early Monday morning I drove from Prescott to Flag to work on a wedding dress with Carol and  do my (maybe) final session of PT. And I got to Page by nightfall - where we ate, danced, and toured the town. 

Then I was on my way to see my best friend in the whole wide world. I threatened her roommates (they were forewarned), put her shoes on, and dragged her to Uncle Ben’s. Who gave us shirts and recommended a Dole Whip float - which was suitably delicious. 

"You thought I was coming out of the closet. But I was
coming out of the closet as a nun."

Per house tradition, we played Rummikub and some other card games (which did NOT include Hand and Foot). I didn’t kill her roommates. 

Day two she abandoned me (but did one pushup to redeem herself). So I worked out and went to the pool and read about J Golden Kimball. I made the best yummy bars yet and we drank Randalls and went on a commemorative duck tour - making yet another YouTube-worthy music video your kids shouldn’t watch. 

"I caught a glimpse of the yummy bars. That's dangerous."
(Not pictured: Emarie, Abby, Carolyn). 

Reid Moon let me touch all his old stuff (and I only tried to steal the ring of power once) and we went to so many stores and houses. 

Rachel May (a wonderful lady and a solid friend) hosted a glorious bridal shower, allowing me to hang out with several mission comps and the old crew (who refused to play Hand and Foot with me). Then Lauren and Mallory (both of whom I love so much) decided to be best friends and travel buddies WITHOUT ME (BUT PROMISED I GET TO COME TO THAILAND AND AFRICA WITH THEM AND WOULD NEVER EVER BACK OUT OF THAT PROMISE).

"I need weaker friends."

Lauren abandoned me again so I went paddle boarding with Maddy, my bro. We didn’t even tip once. I have some cool friends (that’s you, Lauren, if you’re reading this, even if you threw up after I cooked you steak and we didn’t get to go on a date). [We’re straight]. 

We did chill at the pool and pick up some chocolate milk from the creamery and had our final sleepover of the reunion 2020, part one. It’s never long enough. 

"I need to marry someone with impeccable hearing"