Two years ago, November of 2005, I had what was probably the best, though at moments worst, Thanksgiving of my life (funny how more and more often I realize those feelings seem to be paired). I had graduated college in May and D and I had stayed in Iowa over the summer so he could continue employment to stock pile a little more money. We then left to travel the West living out of, or should I say IN, our Josey the XTerra. We left via The Boundary Waters, across the Northern States,
to visit my sissy, who at the time was living in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Then we turned south and made our way to The Robber's Roost for Thanksgiving with several Utahan's we'd known since D's (and then my) time in Utah right after he graduated, and right after we got married. That was before we returned to Iowa for me to finish my senior year at Grinnell.
We'd also managed to introduce our old Moab roommate to a dear friend of ours from Grinnell - who joined us in The Roost from Iowa for a few days (that included her b-day),
as well as a few other odd Canyoneer co-conspirators from Arizona and Colorado - add a nice camping spot in the red dirt and juniper trees and life seemed nice.
I don't remember exactly how long we were out there (four of us were there a couple weeks with others coming and going)... but there were lots of canyons and on Thanksgiving day we sat around all afternoon on camp chairs and large logs and used the top of a cooler as a cutting board, as the fire was prepared and fowl and veggies were cooked in a dutch oven, then spread with fresh cranberry jam and goodness knows what else, on the tailgate of a pickup truck for us to all dig in.
Phillip running with a wet chicken...
D was drinking Quebecois beer from the DABC... aka - State Liquor Store - we'd gotten on our run into town to watch the latest Harry Potter movie the week before. And talking in his funny French accent... after we cleaned out the dutch oven I diced up apples and used the oven to cook cobbler while our stomachs settled and the sun set.
We enjoyed ourselves.
The day before D and I had gone on a short hike/canyoneering bit... down a short fork of a canyon and up another... except we missed the fork we were suppose to go up, it started raining, I wasn't feeling well (stomach ache if I remember/though maybe just nerves) and we ended up doing some awkward and strenuous up-climbing in a very narrow but deep canyon as a small stream of water running down the rock started getting bigger - making everything more difficult, both physically and mentally.
It rings in my mind as having the highest quotient of anguish to hours of any outting I've ever participated in. It sharply contrasted with the relaxation and friendship that defined Thanksgiving day itself.
This year we were suppose to arrange another Turkey Day with A and P... maybe in Death Valley (which holds good memories for the four of us), maybe Joshua Tree, finally life made it look like the closer Grand Canyon was going to be the destination - but in the end, four different people had four different priorities that had to overtake our desire to spend a few more choice days together. Which is unfortunate - I would have enjoyed their company, but my life was calling me to stay home as much as theirs... we'll have another Thanksgiving like 2005... but not this year.
This year had it's benefits and relaxation too - but in a different way. Which has me thinking about the holidays and the benefits of extended circles of family/friends, as well as the benefits of drawing the family line as close as possible and sharing long moments with those closest, that don't always happen in the middle of the Usual Schedule of Life.
Hope you two had a good holiday A and P - we missed you!!!
