Schierly Living

Perhaps I need to lay out a Venn diagram and explore the thoughts floating in my head this morning. There is much to ponder when you live where no human, no machine, no utterance other than one of your own creation interrupts you. Silence when you want it. Music to your sole taste. Food to your exact liking. Same for the temperature, the time you rise, the time you sleep, where you sleep, live, work, play and be. All if it is a path of my own choosing, unencumbered by the thoughts (or needs) of another.

There are days, weeks, months that this all seems normal (normalcy is based upon perception), but is it proper? Can a man build himself into a rut such that he can longer see over the sides, or is he wrapped in an expanse of freedom few ever get to imagine, let alone live, albeit the path of solitude?

There are times I am convinced, by my wiring, childhood, and choices, that I am mapping this out for me, only me, and selfish or free I have yet to distinguish; most of my earlier life I was told that was what I was. Had a grandmother scold me for three days straight, until I left to continue upon my journey, about how selfish it was to sell my home and possessions to embark upon a cross country road trip to discover where in this vast land I wished to settle. I watched her son, my father, sacrifice for her. I refused. It was one of my best life choices, selfish I was told, free though it made me.

Perhaps it is just loneliness this morning. I have human friends, and regular human contact for sanity and life pinging pulses, but free though I am? Companionship might be nice.

Yesterday the ‘big one’ was predicted. I got texts asking if I was okay, and properly prepared, for the incoming blizzard of sorts.

The blizzard never arrived. The fifteen inches predicted shrunk to thirteen, then nine, and then moved to a dusting for the overnight. As previously denoted, the winds and un-bonding snow causes much in regards to migration and filling in all your trails with drifts. Here is an example of yesterday’s wind.

Last night the overnight snow totals dropped to an inch, maybe two. As a result, I awoke with six to eight inches of fresh powder, so the totals are rising, but the forecast, for this winter at least, is quite suspect. The snow is still coming in sideways this morning, but signs of lighter skies underneath are starting to take form.

I have been out of touch for a few days. I have not spent much time on the computer, email, phone, nor music system since Thursday last. Reflection comes when reflection does, but whatever these writings are, they are my own. They are not a call to action, a critique, or an utterance other than what flows from my brain through my fingertips on any given post; for the record, I often know not of what I will write until after I click ‘add new’ and must craft a title.

The mind-dumping freshness of the posts, and the yet to delete any posts, has remained a feature of what I am doing here. It is a journey, and not all roads are smooth, not all days are great, but I am here to learn, as we all are. What we learn, and if we choose to do so, is up to us alone.

I watched a family for two plus hours yesterday. Unsure if it was male and female, but two adult coyotes and a yearling were wandering the fields of Brophy for the afternoon. There was a distinctive leader, forging ahead, sniffing, hunting, and never looking back. There was a caretaker, studiously following the leader, but often stopping, hedging, turning back to wait for the youngster pulling up the rear.

The youngster was tired, disinterested, and often fell through the snow where the adults did not, leading me to wonder if walking on the surface of snow was a learned skill. At one point, the youngster simply sat down, tucked his head into his shoulder, like my dog often does, and took a nap. The caretaker stopped, twenty feet from, also sat down, but stayed on guard whilst the hunter continued to hunt.

The group hunted the fields in vain yesterday. Never did I see them catch anything, but it was a learning trip for the young one nonetheless. Aging as we all are, we are still young in some ways, some good, some not so.

The snow has been heavy and deep. It snows regularly, in small amounts, but daily the winds are pushing migrating snow into most open areas or dips in the snow cover. The moon is blazing fully in all its glory overnights. For the past three days it has been shadowy, heavy, but moon lit in brilliance with the snow’s reflection. Twice I woke in the night, thinking it was day time.

The dog rose early today, needing to go out and do rounds. The Earth is still, the sky is bright and small glistening diamonds within the snow are reflecting in the moon light. It was as if living in a snow globe this morning, and quite beautiful.

Moons as such effect moods, it has been said. Be gentle and kind this week, being sure not to awaken any werewolves within.

Our UPS and FedEx boxes were broken into the week before Christmas. I am hopeful it was someone in need of gifts, not malice that drove the event, notably due to the timing. The police report showed nothing much more exciting than winter gear; our ranch was mostly devoid of humans by then. That was two months ago, and nothing has yet been done to restore our services.

I had some new computer equipment arrive last week, and low and behold, those of us that live here still have nowhere to get packages since the robbery. I have had my tenant collect packages for me and yesterday I ventured again off the mountain into Fort Garland to pick up said same. It was a lovely day, and another exciting ride. I am hopeful that I can now sit still for a few weeks and just enjoy the mountain.

Our neighbors in the Park have had time to get a building ordered, delivered, assembled, complete with shelving installed, and they are back in business receiving packages for their community. Saturday during our board meeting I shall request our board do something for its residents that remain year round.

What we need? A new lock for the FedEx box programmed to the old code. That is all it needs. A new latch for the UPS box, and a couple strong men to right the tipped over box and we can temporarily anchor it to the ground. I have the UPS lock so that doesn’t even need to be repurchased. That is it. Our HOA has not accomplished this in two months. Our neighbors bought, built, and are utilizing a brand new building.

I realize most are not here, but a few that are here depend upon such services. Generator parts, not being able to be dropped locally, and with a tenant out of town, required me to drive to Alamosa to retrieve items that can no longer be dropped a mile from the gate. This seems unnecessary for something that a couple hundred bucks and a list of road names in the ranch could solve.

It seemingly is the mid-winter mark. February officially becomes half gone on Monday. I measure winters here by the remaining piles of wood, running calculations and estimates and using my spatial abilities to ascertain if enough remains. I have plenty, but still I run the calculations.

More snow has landed. Cold has returned, being a mere four degrees this morning.

It is another weekend of reflection. Time to ponder, wander, explore and experience myself and be thankful for the stillness of this mountain. There are a few folks here, but if here, they are settled and not wandering much about.

The stove is stoked. The wood piles stocked and dry. The dog is fed, walked, and resting as he always does. It is calm. It is still. It is what it should be today.

Enjoy your Saturday.