Memories

We had breakfast around 9:00 a.m.

(Acai bowls w/ protein added. Not sure why I feel the need to document our food.)

We sat around the table sharing (and caring), and were surprised when we realized it was 11:30.

We decided to workout then go to the Falls.

But we shared (and cared) some more and before we knew it, it was 1:30 and we were still

all sitting around the table (and swing)!

Anne and I took a bike ride while the other girls did circuit training in the gym.

We'd agreed to exercise for 30 minutes, but the ebikes are so fun (and easy to ride),

and Anne and I were having the best conversation,

that I ended up taking Anne to the end of the road (that leads to the Piedra Falls back door).

We may have been gone waaaaay over an hour.

No regrets. It was worth it.

One topic of discussion was "What's something about your life that surprised you?"

Mine: That I'd be flying in our private plane to get to our ranch in Colorado.

While we were gone, our other friends worked on digital scrapbooks and read and hung out.

And it was after 5:00 when we finally left to the falls,

so unfortunately the General Store was closed and Patti would have to wait another day to get her Pepsi.

No one else was at the falls, which is super unusual, and pretty amazing.

They are still pounding away.

I'd told everyone to bring a pair of long socks for hiking, 

because last year Edie and Jennie both got ticks.

I thought long socks could cover pant legs and keep the ticks away.

But it was shorts weather so the need for long socks was moot.

Jenn wore hers anyway, and the talon toes will go down in history. 

After we got home while Patti and Anne were making dinner, 

Jenn made video reviews of Amazon products for $7 a pop

with items hanging around the house. 

The hanging thermometer, hummingbird feeder, yard games, etc. 

We couldn't end our trip without making a fire,

and Edie and Jenn have mad fire-making skills. 

(Plus I save the lint from the dryer, which is super helpful.)

Edie started in on a camp song:

"It's a web, like a spider's web..."

and the rest of us immediately joined in and we all knew EVERY WORD!

Then she began,

"Tell me the reason..." and again we knew all the words. 

These are camp songs from 7th and 8th grades! 40 years ago. We were 12.

And EVERY WORD is locked and loaded, ready to be sung at a moment's notice.

After it was too cold to stay outside, we worked on our puzzles inside,

then when the time passed midnight, we did the next day's puzzles. 

Before I Tell You That Story...

The girls and I had protein pancakes for breakfast,

then talked and talked before figuring out our fun for the day.

 But before I tell you that story, I need to tell you this story...

Our friendship origin stories.

Anne Thackeray is my longest best friend.

Her family moved back to SLC from Belgium in 6th grade.

When I laid next to my mom in her bed and cried that I didn't have a best friend,

she asked me if I could choose anyone, who would it be. I said Anne.

Mom suggested I invite her to play (or maybe to seminary Lagoon Day?!) 

and after one playdate, we were friends for life.

Our adventures included buying matching shoes at the Safeway in the neighborhood

and riding bikes miiiiiiles away to get mints at Pic 'n Sav because our 6th grade teacher liked them.

And to drive by cat lady's house,

 which seemed miles away but is really just around the corner from where I live now.

I buried my Tiger's Eye ring in her garden as a joke and never found it again and I'm still sad about it.

Once our teacher, Mr. Potts said he wanted to cut off our matching side curls, 

which is a weird thing for a teacher to say.

Also, the time kind Anne shouted at the end of an assembly,

"Yea! It's over!"

We were on the 9th grade newspaper staff together which was a blast because we laughed so much

and really annoyed our teacher. (And I think that's where I got to be close with Michelle L. H.)

Anne and I stayed best friends through High School...

...and even into college, but she went to the U and I was at the Y and after she left on her mission,

we didn't see each other that often.

Anne has her PhD in PT and her advisor was Gerard, just like Courtney's.

After I reconnected with all the high school girls at the 40th birthday cruise,

I was with them a few times when Anne joined us, 

but after she got married, we didn't see her much after that.

EXCEPT one time, a few days after my dad died, I was on a walk and she and her wife

(who don't live close) were on a bike ride on my street. 

We got to talk for quite a while and I'll never forget the tender mercy of seeing

a friend who knew me way, way back, when I was a child, on that hard day. 

I can't put into words why that helped my heart and soul, but it meant the world.

The last Christmas, when we had our big party, I texted an invite, and she said YES!

It was the happiest of reunions for all of us friends to see her again, and I think she felt that.

Because she said yes again when I invited her to Pagosa.

And that was an even happier reunion because we got the chance to talk and catch up

and laugh and share funny memes and discover we still laugh at the same things and memories.

Of course, I also had other best friends, including Patti Sansom who I met in Jr. High,

and she, Anne and I often could be found together.

We roomed together at Oakcrest Beehive camp after 7th grade and terrorized our counselor,

who we hated, (Skye) and hung all over the one we loved (Digger).

Patti's dad took us to Lake Powell for 9th grade graduation.

12-year-old Angela and Digger

Our sophomore year of high school, Caron and Carol Cardall moved to Olympus.

I immediately hit it off with Caron, then she invited her twin sister to tag along one night and 

Carol and I had even more in common--eventually working together on the newspaper staff 

our junior and senior years (along with Michelle L.) and both dating boys on the swim team.

Michelle Lunt, Carol and Me

Halfway into our sophomore year, Jenn Fotheringham moved from Murray High

(her parents were trying to get her away from all the bad influences 

which were all gone by the time Lizzie was there, I'm sure!)

and me, Anne, Jenn and Patti sat by each other in the Alto section of Concert Choir.

Carol and Edie weren't too far away.

Jenn and I discovered we had not only the same birthday, but were born at the same hour 

(me, 3:30 in California and her 5:30 in Chicago 

so we determined we'd held hands down from heaven and have been close ever since.)

All of us went to dances together, goofed off in Concert Choir, studied for AP tests, were in a huge group that played kissing rugby on my front lawn, spent late nights running around parks and sometimes the cemetery, stole street signs, and took turns liking the same guys.

Edie Woodland and I often were together in a large group, but never spent one-on-one time together

in high school. I got to really know her on the 40th birthday cruise, and felt a little jipped that 

I missed out on her friendship and humor for so many years!

Jenn, Anne and Carol on the front row. 

Me and Patti behind. Caron (Carol's twin) next to us, then Edie.

Carol and Anne didn't feel like they knew each other in high school,

but here they are next to each other in our grad photo.

Jenn on the far left, Anne, me, Carol and Kristie.

Patti, Carol, Edie and I were all on Sr. Trip together at Lake Powell.

I didn't feel like I knew Edie well in high school,

but here we are on Senior Trip.

Carol, Patti and I were college roommates (along with Michelle & Jenny Curtis) 

(until Carol got married our Sophomore year and defected to the U, 

and Patti left for her mission our Junior year, defecting to the U afterward as well).

Patti reconnected with Anne and Jenn who had become close with Edie and a whole slew of other friends who adopted me into their group after we all turned 40 

and we all reconnected on the 40th birthday cruise. (And I got to know Edie well.)

40th Birthday Cruise -- Sept 12, 2010

Our lives have intertwined over the years.

Some felt they didn't know each other well in high school, 

but since coming home we've found pictures of us together.

And during the trip, I recognized that now that we're grown, 

everyone was connected in different, inexplicable ways.

Anne and I had a long bike ride together one day, 

and had a conversation on "What has surprised you most about your life?"

It was so fun and insightful reconnecting with someone I loved so much.

But something that hasn't surprised me is

what a great choice I made way back in 6th grade when I chose her.

Album Cover

Dan and Chris were on the road by 6:30 a.m. for a 3:00 tee-time in Clovis,

dinner plans in Lubbock with Mark Mitchell and 

another hour drive to their stopping place for the night.

Meanwhile, the girls and I had a leisurely morning.

then talked and talked before figuring out our plans for the day.

While Anne had remote meetings, the rest of us rode the ATV's and hiked 

Box Canyon to the bridge. We saw a snake and I was relatively calm,

just stopping suddenly and quickly backing up!

We took turns catching up everyone on each of our kids.

Back at the ranch we ate a late lunch then played Frisbee Golf, 

obstacle course style, and realized none of us are very good.

We all crammed in the Ranger to go to the Old Schoolhouse at sunset,

and Jenn was determined to capture a photo of all of us.

...which turned out to be a pretty artsy album cover pic.

And we learned Carol has an eye for lighting.

Back at the property as we headed up the drive, Edie pointed out a deer.

I saw it darting across the hill, but it was much, much faster than a deer.

And it didn't prance like a deer, it bounded.

Someone else said, "I think its a coyote."

But it was much, much bigger than a coyote.

Pretty sure it was a mountain lion. A first for me, in Pagosa.

We ate dinner at 9:00 and stayed up until midnight talking and laughing,

sharing Nate Bargatze videos and Memes.

Girls Trip Begins

I didn't sleep at all last night, just like all my first nights in Pagosa.

And when it was finally light, we got to work.

I steamed the carpets in the bunkhouse where the flood had left ugly brown stains

and was able to get them looking much better.

(The real carpet cleaners' truck broke down and won't be able to reschedule for a while,

so now it doesn't look so off-putting.)

Lots of other house-keeping chores, including

Dan installing a new garbage can system after the cabinet guy disappeared.

Not all heroes wear capes!

We drove to town to pick up the repaired Sequoia 

and treated ourselves to burgers at Sage and green chile fries.

Dan was in heaven (Not sure what he's looking at in this pic?!)

And then my friends arrived and I drove back to town to pick them up!

Yippee! We're looking forward to this time together!

So glad they are here. It was a real sacrifice--three were verrrry sick when getting off the plane.

Carol barfed a few times enroute.

But everyone rallied once on the ground and we had a great night!

Dan and Chris grilled steaks and potatoes for all of us,

and after dinner while they were repacking the car to continue their trip tomorrow,

the girls cleaned up and stayed up way too late talking.

 

Road Trip

At 3:00 this afternoon, with Chris' Audi jam-packed--
mostly his clothes, bedding and golf clubs, 
but also a croquet set and food for Pagosa--
we hit the road for the first leg of the trip to Houston:
SLC to Pagosa.

Dan was flying and drove the whole way.
Our gas fill-up and Wendy's food run only took 15 minutes,
and we made it to Walmart in Pagosa Springs in 6 hrs 15 min. 😳

We listened to The Big Short which was way over my head,

but I loved hearing Chris and Dan discuss!

I also loved snoozing and snacking and sometimes reading in the backseat.

(I started in on my recently re-printed manuscript and found a typo on

THE VERY FIRST PAGE!)

We arrived at camp at 11:30 p.m., and believe it or not,

went to the barn to pull everything down from the loft because I really wanted to 

get it organized and I knew I wouldn't have time once my friends arrived.

Dan was a good sport to help me out.

Memorial Day

Yay for a quiet day to lay in bed and read before a busy week.

Dan and Nick got home this afternoon and  my mom and Marge came over for a BBQ.

Chris and friends had a pool party and BBQ after we were done.

Feels like summer. 

My gosh, it looks like Courtney or Chris' nightstands!

It's finally warm enough to plant

and the flowers around the yard are blooming!

Would you believe these are grape jelly iris because they SMELL EXACTLY LIKE IT?!

Good Sports

Nick had a morning Sprint race and an afternoon "enduro" today.

In the morning's race, he started Pole 1 again.

Nick's in the lead

Footage from Porter's car trying to catch Nick.

My sisters, mom and I were texting, everyone watching, soooo excited.

Check out my heart rate during the race!

Ian was able to pass Nick, then Nick was biding his time, closing the gap,

when with seven minutes left in the 35 minute race, his car broke down again.

Ugh.

Sooo disappointing. Sooo frustrating. 

And yet, that's racing. 

That's sports.

Chris came to church with me and I was watching my texts to see if the car would be repaired in time for the enduro. (Usually enduros are much longer, but this short version was an opportunity to practice

a pit stop with the crew and swapping drivers in preparation for the four-hour enduro in two weeks.)

I got the text that the car was ready to race, so I busted out of 2nd hour early

to come home and watch on YouTube.

Once again they raced great. A bunch of yellows during Nick's half.

And with only a few minutes to go in the second half, Jared got hit and crashed.

I loved Nick's post and I loved Rachel's comment:

 

 

Adrenaline

It's 8:00 p.m. and I just got dressed for the day. And by "getting dressed," I mean changing from my pajamas to sweats and a sweatshirt. I've been in the same spot working on my manuscript from the new kitchen couch for almost 3 days straight. But I'm allllllmost done.

I took a break on Thursday evening, after the sun couldn't hurt my BBL-treated skin, to walk around the neighborhood delivering Relief Society summer social invites while listening to my new Audible. (Babel, by R.F. Kuang. Thanks for the rec, Michael. I'm loving it!)

I thought I'd work for another couple hours and then watch my show (Trying, on Apple TV) or get back to my book (Happy Place, by Emily Henry) but Chris and friends were in and out with so much energy, and I was hopped up on the progress I was making, I couldn't pull myself away and instead worked until midnight. (And then read in bed for a little while, because its sooo good!)

Yesterday I worked for a few hours in the afternoon until my dermatologist appointment, and then tried to get back to it, but found myself skimming and glossing over horrible sentences that needed rewriting. I've learned that after a big push, when I start slacking off, it's because my brain needs a break from being creative. I took a nap and read some more and then was back at it for a couple hours after dinner.

Today I worked from morning to night with a break to watch Nick's race in the Porsche Sprint Challenge at CODA. 

Trying to write while watching the race. I meant to type "couch" but typed "track" instead!

It was so exciting! It was so intense! He was in first place for 33 minutes, holding off the challenger with two minutes to go. 

He's also racing against Patrick Dempsey! 

Great press from the announcers: 

"Shaeffer! Finally--look at this--he's able to show his true pace early on."

"Nick can finally step in the spotlight and he's doing so pretty emphatically."

"Shaeffer really starting to come into his own."

"Intriguing to see what Shaeffer can do here to keep the points leader behind him."

"We've already seen brilliance under Shaeffer."

Then he disappeared from the cameras when his car had some kind of electrical failure, went into limp mode, and he dropped to 16th making a slow slog to the finish line. 

I was disappointed and angry, and drowning in an overabundance of adrenaline. (Reminded me a lot of the Jazz playoff years in 1997.) For the last two days during practice the car has had this problem. The Porsche mechanics thought they'd found the issue, but they clearly didn't. Ugh. So disappointing.

But you know what else is cool? One of the mechanics came to find Dan and said he was so impressed with Nick. Most drivers would come in angry and swearing--especially when the failure cost them the first place finish! But Nick was calm and collected. (The mechanic also was super apologetic, and sure they'd get it properly fixed by tomorrow. Said if they didn't, they'd get a whole new transmission.) 

Fingers crossed for the race tomorrow.