Week 43

Day 294: May 31, 2015

I went out to 10 Mile Falls today. Even over the sound of construction I could pick out the sounds of the surrounding waterfalls from around the valley. They are crashing down the mountains right now. We have had a fair amount of rain in the last few days and the snow on the peaks is melting. The swallowtails have been fluttering around the valley like we see monarchs at home. I see maybe one or two a day. I don't think I had ever seen a swallowtail butterfly before coming here. I spent my afternoon making payment cards for Beanies. Basically, when people put money in the box they can take a card to help them remember how many they have paid for and how many they have left. Some of the guys seem uncomfortable with the honor system so I thought this would help.

Advice for the day from my mind to yours: Dances are only awkward if you stand at the side and feel awkward. Enjoy it! Dance!

Day 295: Jun 1, 2015

It is really starting to freak me out. The new guy looks so much like my ex it is weird. He reminds me of a mix of my ex and an old version of a family friend who is and was too smart for his own good. The family friend learned the social skills but this guy doesn't seem as smart (I think I heard something about community college, which doesn't mean much but still) but is kinda hard to like. Maybe it is my visual connection between him and other people I know but I guess we will see. He is here for a year so here is here for the remainder of my time so I will learn to adapt or accept.

Day 296: Jun 2, 2015

Not much to report. Going out in 3 days so I packed today.

Day 297: Jun 3, 2015

I am finding that the closer I get to going out the more I am realizing how much I need to get out of here. I didn't really feel it until after dinner today. I did get out of the village today, though. A few of my housemates and I went for a walk down the road. In fact, we went farther than I have ever walked down the road (which is only saying that we went more than a mile). It was nice. Only 2 more sleeps til I am out of wilderness and 3 til I see my parents.

Day 298: Jun 4, 2015

Not much to report. 2 days.

Day 299: Jun 5, 2015

This place I now call home:

I ride down the mountain in an old white van. The scenery changes every few minutes. We start in the village with it's buildings, and equipment and soon more to rocky forest. There are areas that have burned in recent years. The small things have regrown and the forest floor is green but the trunks of trees are black. The only hint that something has happened there. There is no hint of snow anymore. It has melted in the last few months and will not return until I am long gone. Then we come to the avalanche area or what we call “ol' faithful”. There are no trees to speak of. There are some larger bushes that tell of a calm winter- ol' faithful didn't slide this year- but other that there is just the bright green of spring. Soon enough, our mountains disappear from view and are replaced by ones that are nameless to me- we have entered the next valley and the comfort of buckskin, copper, dumbbell, and north star is gone. Along the way we pull over for the incoming traffic- a fuel container and an excavator. Upon reaching the dock we only have to wait about a half hour as we watch the boat slowly inch closer. It seems to take for ever but once on the boat you feel like you are speeding along. That fastest a vehicle is allowed to go in the village is 15 mph so anything more than that feels like speeding. I look out the back of the slow boat and there is a stark difference between “our side” of the lake and the east side. Our side looks lush and green while the other side is a rocky brown-grey with hints of grass and shrubs trying to survive the dry side. There is a sprinkling of trees that tend to gather around the avalanche and spring shoots. They are the lucky ones whose seed landed in the ideal spot for life. Even the valleys that cross-sect the lake are brown and grey. Some areas are even full of dead trees, probably died in a fire. They make the peaks look like they have short spiky hair. Even the areas that are green are like lacework. The greenery has grown on the flat areas and the rock has shorn off to make the beautiful green and grey lace.

Day 300: Jun 6, 2015

On my way to Yellowstone! On my first flight there was a guy one seat over from me who was rocking the air guitar. He was having his a concert in his head. It was hilarious. Then, while I was waiting for my next flight a little boy came up to me and wanted to watch the Lorax with me. Of course, I said yes. I mean, how do you say no to a 3 year old who wants to watch the Lorax? The rest of the day was spent mostly in a car. It was great to see my parents again.