New Tricks

 

In defiance of the “old dogs and new tricks” adage, the trip up toward Yosemite with my wife Karen and daughter Talia is filled with surprises. The three to four feet snowdrifts out the window make it remarkable to remember that a mere two weeks ago, I was swimming in tropical temperatures in Bangkok. Our first night here, we walked barefoot through snow in our bathing suits to soak in an outdoor hot tub with open umbrellas over our head as the snow kept falling. That was a first. As was playing pool (the kind with a table, sticks and balls) with my wife— our first game ever in 52 years together—and she was good! She also joined Talia and I putting together a jigsaw puzzle (she never does them) and Talia and I joined her with a glass of wine (likewise, something we never do). In the spirit of surprising each other, Talia suggested I knit a few rows and Karen showed me how. So yes, you can teach an old Doug new tricks.

 

Awoke this morning to a clear day and the snowfall on hold. Thinking about snowshoeing, something we did a little of decades ago and this is clearly the time to try it again. We walked a bit yesterday, but cleared trails were few and though I was warm enough in my Icelandic Sweater gifted to me while teaching in Iceland back in 1995 and mostly sitting dormant in my closet, the wind on our faces was enough to keep the walk short— and that’s when we found the indoor pool table.

 

With another storm on the way, we were leaning to leaving today a day early, but a downed tree and a stranded chipper truck has us captive here for a while more. We may have no choice but to stay one more night and take our chances on an exit tomorrow. 

 

That’s the news, such as it is, from the Evergreen Lodge near Hetch Hetchy.