Change of Plans

CALF CREEK FALLS

As you know we were supposed to be going on a photo trip to Monument Valley and the Slot Canyons in Arizona, but unfortunately we never got to complete our trip.

We were staying in Escalante, Utah for a few days before our official trip was to begin when my husband Don noticed a large number of ‘floaters’ in his right eye. He described them as an “army” of floaters. The next day (Thursday) he began to see a gray curtain start to obscure part of his vision. This curtain grew until he could see almost nothing from his eye – very scary. We cancelled the rest of our trip and started making frantic phone calls to find an ophthalmologist to see him. We finally got an appointment in St. George the next day (Friday the 13^th). I drove Don to St. George and we saw the doctor about 1pm. He confirmed that Don was having a retinal detachment. By extreme good fortune the Retinal Specialist from Salt Lake City was in the eye center that day. He is only there 3 days a month. (I think someone was watching over us) So Don was able to get in to see him and have a more thorough examination. We were told there was a 72 hour ‘window’ for Don to get surgery in order to have the best result. The specialist was able to set us up to see the on call Retinal surgeon in Santa Barbara the next day. So Saturday we got up early and I drove 9 hours straight from St. George Utah to Santa Barbara. This was also our Anniversary day – definitely NOT the way we were hoping to celebrate! We arrived in Santa Barbara at 2:30pm and Don had surgery at 4pm. The surgery – a Vitrectomy - went very well, but the recovery time is LONG. So that is where we are now.

We did have a couple of days to photograph before this happened and I'm sharing one of the  photos I took on the morning of May 12th. Calf Creek Falls is in Utah near Escalante.

Some MAY thoughts

RIVER DOGWOOD

May is truly a lovely month. In the Sierra all the rivers and waterfalls are running wild and free and the wildflowers are in their glory. My thoughts always turn to Yosemite in May. I was married in the Park 23 years ago this month. Don and I usually return every year to renew our love for each other and to breathe some of that rare mountain air. If I close my eyes and open my heart, I can relive the joy and excitment of our wedding day. This year looks to be one of those exceptional Springs. And I will miss it. We are off to have a different kind of Anniversary in the deserts of the Southwest. I wish I could be two places at once. Life is always about making choices. And even when the choice is between two very good options, there can be a sense of loss. I will return to Yosemite in my mind this year for my Anniversary. Next year I well BE THERE. 

"Snow waters rush in a misty cold dance

Turning the light into rainbows

Falling and free, alive to the chance

Of giving back into the life flow."

taken from SIERRA HIGH

© Alice Cahill