A Major Change of Plans, Sturgis, Two Camps, Praying for an Alien Invasion

“The truth will set you free, but first, it will piss you off.”
— Joe Klaas

Sunday Funday, how are you? I’m fine, thank you for asking; we’ve got three here, me, my wife, and Bay hung with us last night.   She kicked my butt in Gin; we had some pizza, watched some television, and hit the bed early. 

We met Allie down the hill, and then she and her dog Coda joined Jen, me, and Bay at Mount Falcon West trailhead.  The dogs love each other; we did 2.2 miles before heading to the Sit and Bull for lunch.  The Sit and Bull is an iconic bar and restaurant off Parmalee Gulch Road.  We sat outside with our friends Kris and Marzy, had a drink, and ordered lunch.  We arrived about 11:30; they were out of fries and tots; I think I could help them with their inventory control.

We came back home to meet a contractor that will replace our deck, seems our current deck is not safe for our new hot tub.  After an hour of meeting, we headed to watch some live music before heading back home.  

My wife got an exciting email right before our hike.  She organizes a group of women for a yoga/horse trip every year.  This year she has ten; she is to leave Thursday; our house will fill up with women on Wednesday night, and then they will head to Gramby, and I’ll head down to Telluride with my friend for Jazz Fest.  The email stated that the forest service had shut down the area due to mudslides and potential flash floods.  All money will be refunded, but now ten women are coming west with nothing to do.

So my wife, after a brief moment of WTF, is organizing four days in CO with her friends.  I’m still heading south, the ladies will make the best of a unique situation, and nobody got hurt.  My wife has put a lot of time into planning this trip, I’m sad, but things happen for a reason.  I’m sure there will be a spa day, maybe some horseback riding locally; she will do what she does and organize an excellent time for all.

I noticed that when I attend the jazz festival, I must prove my vaccination status.  Isn’t there a law about health information?  HIPPA, I think, it’s a big deal not to share one’s medical information, but now, if you want to assemble, we must have our papers. Are you paying attention?

As a company, we do not require our team to get vaccinated. However, we have many young people that have done the risk assessment and do not feel they want to take the chance of a nonapproved vaccine.  Do you know the vaccine is not approved?  That point has not received much attention, but when I got my shots, it was clear in black and white, this is not FDA approved. 

I have not watched a minute of the Olympics; I’ve got little interest.  As a child, we would huddle around the television and watch the events. But the disrespect many athletes have shown for our country while also representing is a little off-putting.  I’m a free speech advocate, so they may do and say what they think, but I don’t have to watch.  It’s interesting to see a photo of a purple-haired white woman kneeling while her black teammate stands with pride; no thanks, I’ll watch the UFC, which is populated with patriots.

I think we will go for another hike; we will take PVHT.  A grocery store visit is also on the list; I suspect my wife will be cooking this afternoon; it’s what she does on Sunday.   Bay’s hanging around, she’s part of the horse trip group, she will help my Queen plan some events.  I’ll do what I can as well, time to chip in some time.

I’m not sure how the world is working where you are, but our community is ripping and running.  You don’t see masks; we’re open for business, we are back to operating in a pre-pandemic way.  I feel a little sorry for my friends that have to live under the rule of fear and folly. On the other hand, I’m a freedom-lover and will do as I see fit, my body, my choice.

In a show of freedom, there are about one million people in Sturgis celebrating their right to assemble peacefully.  I’ll cheer for them from my mountain top chalet. But, unfortunately, almost half the population is angry that these folks are having a great time. Have they not heard about the Delta Variant?  Maybe they have, and they have looked at the data of how it impacts vaccinated people and are willing to take the risk of living life as they see fit.

The world is split into two camps, ones that wish for someone to tell them what to do and ones that want to make their own choices.  Which camp are you in?  I think you know where I stand, and if you disagree, well, you do you, and I’ll do me.  We need an alien attack to bring us back together, I’ve never hoped for an alien invasion, but I think that is one of the only things that could put our Humpty dumpty world back into one cohesive unit. 

I hope these words find you well.  I hope you, too, are living your best life.  I trust you are taking care of yourself, getting vitamin D, and maybe moving a little to help keep you healthy. But, if you choose to lock yourself away, enjoy; we will be living, loving, and enjoying the greatest country in the world.

“The truth will set you free, but first, it will piss you off.”
— Joe Klaas