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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - Page 16 The quest think my poor vehicle would by Doris Valle During the years when I lived in Mexican Hat travelers from the city often asked, How can you stand to live here in this barren desolate country? I would just say, I like it here, and walk away. If they were unable to see -and feel - the beauty around them I couldnt help them. Usually, one trip into the back country out of Mexican Hat is enough to convert a city slicker. At the request of my son, Paul, I took a couple of his work buddies - Roger and Jon - for a hike on the Mesa at least 15 years ago and theyve been coming back to the red rock country ever since. Last Saturday, when Paul was at my house enjoying a vacation, the two of us drove to Cedar Mesa to meet Roger and Jon. I liked being with them but all three are typical computer geeks, high tech guys. dont even try to comprehend their conversation when I they discuss something they are doing these days. They are very bright young men when it comes to that technological world wdiich is so foreign to me but I had a hard time keeping my mouth shut when we were turned off the Muley Point Road at the old corral to take the track toward the rim of Johns Canyon. There was an old wire and post gate barring the way through a barbed wire fence. First, Roger tried to open it and then Paul went to help him and then Jon joined them. There was a short piece of rope to aid a novice gate opener and they Figured that out. But not one of them thought to stand parallel to the gate and lean on the piece of gate which needed to be removed from the enjoy a rollover. Fortunately, my car survived its rough treatment and we parked and set out to find a kiva under an overhang overlooking Johns Canyon, which Paul had found more than 20 years ago. I dont know when Paul told his work buddies about this special place, but Roger had been on the Mesa looking for the elusive kiva several times. This year Paul agreed to meet Roger and Jon to lead them to the right place. Why was it so important that they Find the kiva? Were on a quest, Roger said. Many who have camped and hiked on Cedar Mesa have felt the special mystique of the area. I think perhaps Roger was seeking his own Holy Grail in the form of a kiva which had assumed a special significance for him. Some type of spiritual significance. Roger has been very ill. At 45 years old he was diagnosed with lymphoma. With treatment he was better and back at work but three years later he became ill again. Diagnosis leukemia. After treatment he is now in remission and again at work. But he seems very frail. Both Paul and Jon were con- cerned with his lack of strength when they went along the rim searching for a place Paul had not been back to in more than 20 years. However, Roger seemed to resent any suggestions that he was too weak to undertake such a strenuous hike. Paul had been sure that he would recognize the place when he saw it again but anyone who is familiar with Cedar Mesa would understand wire loop. that locating a specific spot I did not feel it would be dipwith only a vague memory of lomatic for an elderly woman what it looked like once upon to get out of the car and say, a time would not be that easy. Here, this is the way you open Finding a needle in a haystack a gate. Nor did the old lady would be a simpler task. dare comment when the track But if God wills Roger will not be back next year to continue we drove over was really meant for a motor vehicle. his Quest. Even when the vehicle in question was supposed to be a SUV drive. with The two rut track deteriorated into a rut high on one side with the other side completely washed out. There was no indication that the wheel of a car was supposed to roll along that track. I would not have been so nervous if Paul, on the drive to the Mesa, had not been warning me about the faults of the SUV which I had Organic Espresso Fresfi Juices recently purchased. It has a high wheel base so Sunday Shoes Reprinted from the May 20, 1999 San Juan Record Do these things only happen to me, or am I really from Mars? The following story is true except I left out the part where she cuffed me in the head. I am sitting in my over stuffed chair in my really its top rolls it easily, he said. heavy I was not relaxed when we crept along with wheels on one side making contact with the earth almost a foot lower than those on the other side. We were leaning about halfway over on the low side and I kept thinking we were going to topple any minute. I did not gray y, goes with gray. And pink goes in the garbage! These rules have been worked on for thousands of years and served men well. Whatever possessed her to ask my opinion is beyond me. gave it my best shot, Well, yes they match your But I dress but they dont match each other. bedroom, dressed and ready to go to church, with my faithful dog Turbo laying on the floor I There, blurted it out, I spilled my guts. Your shoes dont match. She looks at me, one jR nearby, eye brow goes up, and We both look up she looks a little exaswhen my too kind by Gary Torres perated, Well, duh... of and loving wife walks over and stands before course they dont match each us in her Sunday dress and a other, I want to know if they pair of shoes. However, the match my dress? shoes dont match each other. Things are going from bad to worse. She whips out from beI know this because one is like hind her back, two other shoes, teal and the other one aint. The conversation goes some- - neither of which I might point thing like this, Do these shoes out match the current shoes on her feet and asks, Do these match? shoes match? I am assuming that this is a Weve been here before trick question, since I know the shoes are not the same havent we? I respond, Huh? She responds, Do these color and furthermore, I know that she must know they are shoes match? I respond, Match what?. not the same color. Both eyebrows drop down (I So I figure that she is: one, am getting the knitted brow testing my intelligence (again), or two, testing to see if I am look) and she says, My dress colored blind, or three, testing of course. to see if I am listening (again) Sensory overload, my brain I to the or four, talking dog. look at him just in case. He wags his tail and seems to say, Youre in for it now. So my calculated and careful response is, Huh? I am looking stupid and look for an exit from the room since what I can see is that somehow I am going to get in trouble. Turbo sits up so he can watch the whole thing. My too kind and loving wife has the on her face, Do these of course is reeling and vertigo sets in. I am dazed and confused and before I can answer, she whips out another dress that was laying on the bed and puts it up to her and she asks, Does this match? Of course I respond with, Match your dress???, with a very confused look on my face (again). She looks dismayed and says, No the shoes!. I respond boldly (in my mind of course), What shoes? You have four shoes in front of me, none of which match each other and all of which look the same to me since they arent black. But having read the Mars-Venu- I something smart and concentrate on her needs. I respond with a calmer, but cautious, Which ones do you like? Maybe we should get one of the girls in here, they probably know more about what is in these days. This goes on for another 10 minutes, during which time she has emptied the closet of stacks of dresses and boxes of shoes to finally announce that she has nothing to wear to church. I am so gladl only have one suit, one pair of shoes, one white shirt, and one tie. have the on my face, Match what? see just a hint of a knitted brow and she says, My dress of course. I have to stop right here and point out that she knows that I am She knows that my rules for I fashion-sense-challenge- SAN JUAN BUILDING SUPPLY 1 050 S MAIN 435 - 678 - 2000 d, BLANDING dressing are simple at best. Black goes with black. Brown goes with brown. White goes with anything. If I am feeling Croissant Sandwiches Wrap Sandwiches Fresh Salads ATTORNEYS AT LAW good. But since K. Andrew Fitzgerald, J.D. Autumn Riley Fitzgerald, J.D. Criminal Defense Bankruptcy RadiationUranium Exposure (RECA) t Open: Thursday - Tuesday, 7 am - 5 pm 516 North Main Wednesday, 7 am - 7 pm Monticello 435-587-50- 63 55 East 100 South (435) 259-011- 9 s thingamajig book I squelch my instinct to say shoes match?. it doesnt high center and thats wild-and-craz- Moab, Utah 84532 FAX (435) 259-016- 5 |
