What do you see when you look behind you
I have been spending this last week with a friend in an amazing place. St George UT is a country of astounding geographical beauty with colors and rising structures that take my breath away. I have always loved the area but generally was too busy to pause or I was just passing through. My friend, Kelly Sooter; sent me an email several months ago with a notice of a nice art show encased in a red spectacle. “Come for the show at Kayenta and stay for a week! We can plein air paint together and I will take you everywhere.” Well, who could resist? I applied, was accepted and ran away from my tolerant husband and my home in Spokane. Due to the amazing drama of the fall storms, we haven’t done much outdoor painting but I have gotten some incredible material and while we were racing after the sunlight and storms, Kelly reminded me something important; Always make sure to turn around and look back.
Now, I have counseled against looking at the mistakes of your past and dwelling on them. I consider it a waste of time to keep turning them over and over. Learn your lesson and move on but when my friend talks about looking behind you, Kelly is talking about the landscape. Sunsets can be like that, you have this amazing drama in front of you but; that light comes from somewhere. You need to turn around and see what the sun is doing while it creates the painted landscape before you.
Over rutted track Kelly bravely powered her tolerant Subaru, showing me hillside and mesa; arroyos and washes; always chasing the light. We would wake up to rain and storms with glee and anticipation because here in the desert it meant that the colors would be richer and shy flowers would be spreading their petals to the glory of the sky. At one point, we pulled over along the highway and I dove from the car so I could grab the textures of fractured strata, muttering quietly to the buzzworms, “Don’t mind me, I’m just passing through.” Buzzworms or nope ropes are rattle snakes and they didn’t come out to pester me. I trod very carefully and watched where I stepped as I made my way to find the perfect shots. Kelly made loop after loop between two exits for me so I could get some spectacular photos.
I was taking shots in Wal-mart parking lots, out moving car windows (I wasn’t driving), off her back patio and all the while Kelly chanted, “Wouldn’t you love to live here year round with all this beauty?” Everyone says that about North Idaho, Montana and even my humble home town of Spokane. Ultimately, it comes down to one beacon that I am dialed into so I turned the Surburban’s nose Northwest and headed home. My husband is happy where he is and he is my home. So, while St George may have turned my head; yep Kelly, I will always look back. Kelly tells me I can return any time I want and….. I can bring a few friends!