Having actually gone to Colorado last summer, I can envision all of these landscapes so much more vividly, and it makes me want to go and explore and hike and get all the gear I'd need and go ski down a sand dune. :)
Jane & I have often camped in several dunes areas around the country: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park (including twice on South Manitou Island -- Lake Michigan), Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness (Lake Michigan), Oregon Dunes (Pacific), and of course, Colorado Sand Dunes National Park. We don't ski, but skiing those dunes would be a marvel. There have been several photographers who've done some nice work there. There's also a gator (sic) farm nearby, several hot springs, and a rather nice semi-hidden waterfall of maybe 20 feet or so, reached by a hike, literally, up a stream
( ... )
Oh man, I would love to go back and get to spend more time than just a short road trip.
I think I saw the gator farm--it's on the road heading south from Buena Vista towards the Great Sand Dunes National Park, right? We were a little flummoxed by it being out there...but now I wonder if there aren't more gator farms...
I also discovered that altitude is interesting, and while I wheezed some, I didn't vomit. I was proud.
There's only one Colorado Gator Farm, and that's where it is. It's based around a hotsprings. Summers, they actually teach Alligator Wrestling, with appropriate pictures. If you're a camper, Great Sand Dunes is a good place to camp, and if you've 4-Wheel Drive, there are some free campsites in the national forests -- primitive, of course. If you're camping, either Great Sand Dunes or National Park, it's best to reserve ahead -- if weekends, well ahead. But you could use our couch as a base, so long as you don't mind our hours. My stepdaughter is up until the wee hours of the morning, and Jane & I rise at 7 a.m. or so.
Altitude takes some getting used to. Here, JKR had it right: eat lots of chocolate. Seriously. If you don't believe me, ask privatemaladict, who stayed with us in December 2007. The best way to handle altitude. Stay somewhere for a few days, and walk around gently, drink caffeine, eat chocolate. It only takes a day or three.
Ah, dear mrsquizzical, so lovely to hear from you! Though I'm sad to hear that, regarding Alzheimer's, you speak from experience. I, too, have previous experience. My grandmother -- my father's mother -- was my nextdoor neighbor and, as I was the oldest child, she more-or-less mothered me. Two more came quickly, both girls, and my mother, an only & adopted child, I think didn't know quite to do with boys until my younger brother, who came 10 years after me. Though mom & I were still fairly close, just in some ways, especially as I got older, perhaps more like much older sister/much younger brother. Anyway, Grandma Young, starting around 80 y/o, also had Alzheimer's. I was away at graduate school most of this time. But it was very sad to see her drifting away.
Thanks for your good wishes on our camping trip. We feel fairly comfortable, though it's going to take some organizing I haven't quite accomplished yet. *sigh* Jane, however, is doing some organizing, too -- which is exciting -- assisted by Les.
My cousins live all over the Western Slope, and on my way to visit them I've been up to the Tarryalls. It's beautiful country! (The younger ones live mostly in Dillon, a couple in Steamboat, and the older folks are either much further west in Rifle, Newcastle, and Grand Junction, or close to Denver in Golden.)
I'm sorry to hear about your father. ((((You))))) It was hard enough watching grandparents make that slide ... I can't imagine watching a parent go through it.
The Tarryalls are, indeed, beautiful mountains and the southern Tarryalls are little visited, surrounded mainly by small ranches. We feel very lucky to be so close by.
I can't imagine watching a parent go through it.
It's frustrating being at a distance.... Hmmmm. It's not so much my watching. Like Jane, it's more a we, or as I think of it, more a we-ing, a process of being together or togethering. Though with dad -- he's always kept folks somewhat at a distant -- largely because of his father. But that isn't all our we-ing. Dad & I have been able to become close, to create our we-ing around what he so strongly lives & values -- wildflowers, trees, wild places in their diversity & beauty, protecting/preserving, encouraging others into all that.
In a way... I guess that makes it not exactly easier, but more like we've a place to be together in, or for us to together in. While that has some detail, more than that it has a richness we can share in being with, and a.... Something More or Greater than 'just us two'. So it isn't
( ... )
Hello, my friend! I've missed you around these parts - although I suspected you were busy rather than anything being "wrong" (aside from the wrongness that is Jane's illness, of course). But I'm so pleased that things are progressing well. And that you are able to take a vacation. That, I'm sure, is a huge relief.
I'm sorry to hear about your dad, though. Alheimer's is so unfair. Good that you had some time with him, though.
Your accomplishments and great attitude continue to be an inspiration to me. Hang in there, and enjoy your time away.
Yes, dear magicofisis</i, I've very much gone missing from around these parts. And you were right, other than the wrongness of Jane's illness, things were merely too-busy, which I'm trying to claw into an end.
Thanks for your thoughts about dad. I very much respect how he's doing this. That he finds ways to face this with dignity, doing his best -- the docs can't believe what he's still doing. But I can -- that's dad! And you are quite right, it was good to be together again.
Your accomplishments and great attitude continue to be an inspiration to me.
You must mean some other guy. The closest I can come to taking that in -- which, I know, is very much my issue -- is an old medieval saying, "We see farther because we stand on the shoulders of giants". The same is true of attitude & accomplishments. My accomplishments? Think of Jane, of my dad, my Grandmother Young, my Grandfather Schultz. I'm not just on their shoulder's; they're still holding me. That stuff isn't mine, 'cause I know I could never do that alone. I'm very clear-eyed
( ... )
It is so good to hear from you. I've been thinking about you recently, and wondering how things were going - and through all the ups and downs it sounds like things are indeed looking up.
Do you remember the interview we did back in 2005, about Asperger's? I wanted to know if I could use that as part of my research now. it's helped me define my thesis and what I know and how people can understand AS and I am just so thankful to you for that - it's had a massive impact, so just wanted to let you know that :)
Kiks, dear, dear Kiks, of course you may use whatever seems to work with your research. And yes, I do remember that interview, though I confess I've forgotten the specifics. Perhaps 10-20% of my caseload remains Asperger's, and I'm doing education all the time, answering questions, doing interviews so to speak. I'm more than flattered, my heart is genuinely touched that some of this has helped you along your way. Though I'm quite confident that much of what you've taken from it was already within, at least in some way
( ... )
Comments 19
Having actually gone to Colorado last summer, I can envision all of these landscapes so much more vividly, and it makes me want to go and explore and hike and get all the gear I'd need and go ski down a sand dune. :)
Reply
Reply
I think I saw the gator farm--it's on the road heading south from Buena Vista towards the Great Sand Dunes National Park, right? We were a little flummoxed by it being out there...but now I wonder if there aren't more gator farms...
I also discovered that altitude is interesting, and while I wheezed some, I didn't vomit. I was proud.
Reply
Altitude takes some getting used to. Here, JKR had it right: eat lots of chocolate. Seriously. If you don't believe me, ask privatemaladict, who stayed with us in December 2007. The best way to handle altitude. Stay somewhere for a few days, and walk around gently, drink caffeine, eat chocolate. It only takes a day or three.
Reply
sorry to hear the sadness with your father. watching inevitable degeneration is never fun. (speaking from experience)
i hope your camping trip is a success. and that you do get some more playtime soon.
*hugs*
Reply
Thanks for your good wishes on our camping trip. We feel fairly comfortable, though it's going to take some organizing I haven't quite accomplished yet. *sigh* Jane, however, is doing some organizing, too -- which is exciting -- assisted by Les.
Reply
do you get email notifications? it will be there.
xo
Reply
My cousins live all over the Western Slope, and on my way to visit them I've been up to the Tarryalls. It's beautiful country! (The younger ones live mostly in Dillon, a couple in Steamboat, and the older folks are either much further west in Rifle, Newcastle, and Grand Junction, or close to Denver in Golden.)
I'm sorry to hear about your father. ((((You))))) It was hard enough watching grandparents make that slide ... I can't imagine watching a parent go through it.
Reply
I can't imagine watching a parent go through it.
It's frustrating being at a distance.... Hmmmm. It's not so much my watching. Like Jane, it's more a we, or as I think of it, more a we-ing, a process of being together or togethering. Though with dad -- he's always kept folks somewhat at a distant -- largely because of his father. But that isn't all our we-ing. Dad & I have been able to become close, to create our we-ing around what he so strongly lives & values -- wildflowers, trees, wild places in their diversity & beauty, protecting/preserving, encouraging others into all that.
In a way... I guess that makes it not exactly easier, but more like we've a place to be together in, or for us to together in. While that has some detail, more than that it has a richness we can share in being with, and a.... Something More or Greater than 'just us two'. So it isn't ( ... )
Reply
I'm sorry to hear about your dad, though. Alheimer's is so unfair. Good that you had some time with him, though.
Your accomplishments and great attitude continue to be an inspiration to me. Hang in there, and enjoy your time away.
Reply
Thanks for your thoughts about dad. I very much respect how he's doing this. That he finds ways to face this with dignity, doing his best -- the docs can't believe what he's still doing. But I can -- that's dad! And you are quite right, it was good to be together again.
Your accomplishments and great attitude continue to be an inspiration to me.
You must mean some other guy. The closest I can come to taking that in -- which, I know, is very much my issue -- is an old medieval saying, "We see farther because we stand on the shoulders of giants". The same is true of attitude & accomplishments. My accomplishments? Think of Jane, of my dad, my Grandmother Young, my Grandfather Schultz. I'm not just on their shoulder's; they're still holding me. That stuff isn't mine, 'cause I know I could never do that alone. I'm very clear-eyed ( ... )
Reply
Do you remember the interview we did back in 2005, about Asperger's? I wanted to know if I could use that as part of my research now. it's helped me define my thesis and what I know and how people can understand AS and I am just so thankful to you for that - it's had a massive impact, so just wanted to let you know that :)
Take care.
-Kiks
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment