On The Road 🌤

Enjoying the smaller things in life

I sat there in my royal blue, polyester chair while enjoying a nice cup of black coffee along with a potato sandwich and a pickle for the added sour and savory taste. My dog, Max rested on his own polyester chair that gave him the same sense of comfort my chair had also given me.

We sat in the middle of a large meadow and to the far distant sat hundreds of Ponderosa Pines and mountains that ranged from various sizes. Scattered around me were Yarrows and Black- eyed Susan's. The grass was as green as emeralds and the sky was as blue as the sea. Two Spotted Towhee were chirping to the left of me and it looked like they were foraging for worms. Mew. . . Mew. . .

A pleasantly sweet and fresh smell mixed with a vinegary fermented scent filled my nostrils. It tickled it ever so slightly.

Max and I were gathered under a wide black canopy, accompanied by my van, which was my home that had everything I needed in it, and a nice warm campfire In between us.

The sun was setting so it had been around seven or eight at most and I had just finished up what you could call a meal, but for me it was rather a snack. A potato sandwich and pickles, wasn’t practically anything I thought I would have ever eaten together, but since traveling I’ve come across many people who told bizarre stories and shared with me food recipes and this being one of them.

Some were weird and some were intriguing, but can I just say I was opposed to the idea of the combination, considering I wasn’t a big fan of pickles, but once I had it I ate it at least two times a day. It’s just something about the taste. The soft creamy potato and spice from the sauce just went really well with the sourness from the pickle.

I crumbled up the foil that I had the sandwich in and tossed it into the bin next to my van. I gently rubbed Max’s belly while admiring the color of his coat. I began to admire him. He's the last form of my adulthood, the last walking memory. The more I look at him it's easier to remember. In all honestly I gave up the "Rush" Life. Before my wife died this was all she talked about. Living a life worth watching. I didn't know what she meant then, but I know now.

She never failed to tell me to slow down, be patient or try new things. I was the complete opposite. The words from a wise one seeped into my mind and made a home for itself, its gotten so comfortable that its forgotten how to leave. Maybe because it came from the one I love or because it's true either way. I don't know, but all I know is that I will try to savor the wind.

Well, I thought.

I got up and walked over to my camera and turned it on. I switched the leans. Perfect time for a nature shot, I thought. I got down on one knee and angled my camera towards the field and herd of trees that resided in front of the mountains. I looked up towards the sky and saw birds flying in a pack. Please fly in my shot, please. I timed when the birds would come and took the shot once they were in. I looked at the photo and felt happy and relieved.

“That’s a million dollar shot right there, huh Max!?” I ran over to him and showed him the photo, as if he even knew what it was.

I felt content with what I had. Sitting back down, I grabbed my cup of coffee and looked out towards the abyss. Savoring and soaking up in nature.