The Little Things

Today was all about the little things.  Little things that you might notice, but more likely that you would miss it.  For example, after I got my wits about me this morning, Miki and I did our morning fishing and sketching foray, but separately.  That is a little thing that some might overlook, but we have done so much together over the years due to our careers and interests, that when we are apart it is noticeable to me.  Maybe she just needed some time away from me!  That would be no small thing, hhmmm.

I walked down to the lake, just a few minutes walk from our campsite, and because the lake is sooo low, you can walk in places you would never able to at other times of the year.  For example, I walked out to an island, not the way Jesus would have, but on dry ground that is normally under 15 to 20 feet of frigid water.  That is not necessarily a small thing, but I noticed some dog-like tracks on some of the softer, not quite dried out areas I was walking on to get to a fishing spot.  The tracks were bigger than my dogs and probably most dogs.  Now remember, we just saw The Bourne Legacy yesterday and there were a couple of wolf scenes that were fresh in my memory.  As I was fishing, I looked over my shoulder an unusual amount of times, just to make sure I was not being surrounded.  It turns out that Miki talked to other campers that heard a pack of coyotes come through last night.  YIKES!

While fishing, I did have company.  A Great Blue Heron was across the water from me fishing too.  His presence was a small thing, but comforting for it's size.  I figured that if he flew away, I better look over my shoulder again!

In the picture below, do you notice anything missing?  They would be small things... anything?  Those small concentric circles I live for and those beings that make them.  I walked by a few spots that I thought would be hopeful, but there did not appear to be anyone home...kind of like when someone comes soliciting to your door and you pretend not to be home.  I figured the fish were waiting until I left their front porch before they went about their business again.

I did meet a few more little rainbows today.  I wonder what little thing it is about the fly I tossed to them, that they took it and ran swam, while most of the others ignored it.  I guess if I knew that, I'd be a little better at this game.

Once again, what seemed like a little bit of time turned into hours before I headed back to our little trailer (Ha! sorry).  On the way back I noticed a lot of little plants that seemed to have taken a spot on dry land that is normally not.  I guess little seeds can travel and find just the right spot.  They will be missed when the lake rises next spring.

A couple of the loops in the campground are closed, I am assuming due to low volume of traffic this time of year.  They make a great place to walk the dogs.  As I was walking through one of the closed loops, I spotted some little flowers that seemed very delicate.  Most of the flowers are gone from the summer explosion of colors and varieties that show themselves.  The ones that are left seem extra special to still be around.

Have I told you how pretty the fall colors are right now with the aspen turning their yellows, oranges, and reds?  Each little leaf on an aspen tree seems to turn on its own.  On one tree, you may have 2-3 colors at once.  And all those individual colored leaves make quite a show on just one tree.

Getting back to the trailer, I seemed to have chased off a couple of little chipmunks.  As quickly as they scurried away, they came right back with less fear and went right back to doing what I evidently interrupted...eating.  They were really funny to watch together.  Normally I would see just one around our site as it moved almost without thought, like the silver ball in a pinball game, bouncing off the bumpers and flippers in erratic motions, or like so many of my former students that didn't come to school on their ADHD medication.  But this time there were two of these little rascals.  I could have watched them all day.

We ended our day at the Silverthorne Elks Lodge, we discovered last year at this time.  Judging by the number of people that showed up for Wednesday night bingo, it must be a little known secret.  When we are on the road, we tend to look for little things, like bingo, to entertain us for a nominal fee.  Part of the draw for us to go back and relive last fall with our Elk friends, was that we won some big money...Miki won $40 on a bingo and I split a bingo with someone worth $100.  Of course, if you have been paying attention to this trip, you remember that lightning can strike twice in the same place.  Well, we put an end to that theory for now.  It was not to be our night, but a lady and her two kids (on a school night mind you) won three times.  We came painfully close a couple of times, but I am sure others did as well.

Looks like a semi-serious table of bingo heads...dabbers, drinks, crazy looks.

Come on, just one more number, make it mine baby, come one!

Can we fill a day with little stuff or what?  I guess that is one way to look at retirement.  It is noticing all the little things you were too busy to notice before.



My Zen from the Road:  Adding all these little things up made this day pretty big.  So my challenge to you is take a day and look at it from the little things that happened.  Not the speeding ticket or the raise you got.  Not the fact you finished Shades of Gray without telling anyone or your child got their driver's permit, but the smile someone flashed you at a stoplight or the kind word you said to a co-worker you don't often acknowledge.  See what you notice.