The Trip - Day 9

July 18, 2011

The sunrise on the mountains in the morning is so beautiful. Its beauty caught me by surprise each time. I would wake up between 5:30 and 6 each morning to take Maya on a half hour run. The cool, dry air, and the beautiful view made it something I looked forward to every day.


After running Maya, I would stretch on theback porch, while she would take up her usual post by the Ponderosa Pine. She was determined not to let the resident squirrel have a chance to cross to the bird feeder. It made for a loud and angry, tail-twitching squirrel. Maya though, would sit calm as a sphinx - until the squirrel made a move. Then she would leap off the porch and into the tree. She seemed to forget she can't climb trees. This was my daily morning action show.



Asher started a creative writing camp, "Words with Wings", at the University of Montana today. He was on the same floor of the LA building that all my English classes were on. It brought back wonderful memories of meeting inspiring professors and hearing about new ideas as I walked the dimly lit hall, and escorted him into one of my old classrooms, where they still had the same old wooden desks. I was proud my little writer was sitting where so many great people had sat before.
They ended up going to the Native American building on campus, and studied Native American poetry styles and tried their hand at writing in that style. Here is a sample of his writing from this day:

I am the one who moves with the water.
I am the one who hears music, just by listening to the air.
I am an archer, who makes arrows soar through air.
I am the one who sees crows, as they perch on high branches.
I am the one who slips and drops a rock in a stream,
then bends down to find it,
but only sees my reflection, swirling in the living water.

Later that night, we had dinner with the missionaries. One of the Elders had worked at a scout camp with the rifle classes. That led to Brad getting out his rifles and a pellet gun, and letting the boys try them out. Asher enjoyed shooting, and hopes to do more when we visit again sometime.