If we ever cancel a month, can it please be August???? Sorry to all you August birthdays, but every year that goes by, it’s August that becomes more unpleasant. Summer holds such potential on the first days of late June. Happiness. A still frigid dip in the pool. The first cutting and the scent of fresh mowed lawn. Mature rose bushes, blooming in all their glory. Fruit trees flowering with promise of a bountiful crop.
The 4th of July sparkles. Fireworks. Barbeques and late sunsets. Softball games at Out of Town Park. Yes, summer is a fine time. As a teacher, I’d look at the first days of vacation and think, “My summer is ripe with possibilities.” All wonderful things I’ve celebrated this year in the high desert. The key word. DESERT. Well folks, the bloom is off this rose. Summer needs to wind up and head on out the door.
The hills have been brutalized by weeks of triple digit heat. Brittle and dry, they sit waiting for a fire. In the high desert, fires burn hot and fast. Whipped by ferocious winds, the flames spread like –well — wild fire. When we first came to Nevada, I’d never given much thought to the height of sage brush and the other bushes that thrive on public lands (the REAL and ONLY BLM — Bureau of Land Management). Sage can grow really tall (4′ – 5′) being quite the fuel for fire. Add in Cheatgrass. Rabbit Brush. Russian Sage. All help to fuel infernos of the high desert.
Unlike forest fires of California, most desert fires are allowed to burn until there is nothing left, unless, of course, buildings are in harms way. In a year’s time, its hard to tell that a fire ever occurred, as the cycle starts over again.
Yesterday, the smoke was so thick and suffocating before sunrise, I truly thought the fields around Winterpast were aflame. Some ash fell, while we choked from the California fires that are raging. To the North and East, the smoke catches the prevailing winds, headed straight for my little town. If wearing masks because of Covid isn’t bad enough, many people are wearing them to protect themselves from the smoke, as well. Staying inside is the preferred activity.
With weeks of dismal news, smoke, virus particles, and news of neighbors fallen sick, I must say my creative juices have been on hold. Every day counts down to September 24 and my chosen date for release of my first book. It’s with a heavy heart that I must admit, my progress is not what I’d hoped. Still aiming for September 24th, I write on, but in all reality, my publish date may need to be pushed back to the end of November. I want my first attempt at publishing to be the very best I can offer, including attention to punctuation and grammar. To those wishing for more political correctness, I apologize in advance. Probably not.
Every day, I work a little here and a little there, piecing together the story I have to tell. I hadn’t factored in the additional emotional toll it takes to tell the story once more in detail. Some days are easier to get through than others. No one quite prepared me for year two, mysterious and lonely in a way all its own. Healing such a very long time, no matter how strong one is. I’ll keep you posted of my progress, and appreciate you, my dear readers, so much.
Oliver is not enjoying August anymore than I am. Being an August puppy, he just passed his third birthday and is now an adult. He goes outside in a playful mood, but immediately returns to the door, looking confused. He knows smoke smells of something wrong but can’t quite understand danger is hundreds of miles away. His mood isn’t the best, either.
With a month left until the first day of Autumn, the countdown to falling leaves, apple pie, and pumpkins is on its way. Airing out my sweaters, I can hardly wait to enjoy crisp cool days of yard work and preparations for the first snow of the year. Fall is my favorite time of year, with plans in place to attend at least one high school football game. Just two more weeks of August, and we can pack up for another year.
Whatever you find yourself doing today, be grateful if you can breathe fresh air. Be grateful if you have a quiet back yard in which to dance with the flowers. Be grateful for friends, family, and our wonderful country. Remember, when days are too hazy, stay inside and be lazy! Until tomorrow, take care.