The border collies and I spent the last day and night up high at and above timberline, truck camping and then hiking. It was nice weather before winter sets in. We had long walks yesterday evening and early this morning, plus Milky Way shots during the new moon.

Sometimes I just like the simplicity of sleeping in the truck, which leaves more time for being out and wandering in the mountains. My chevy Colorado has a back seat, with room for two of the three border collies even with me tilting the driver seat down to sleep. Jess sleeps in the shotgun seat next to me. When I am ready to be off it is a matter of bringing the seat back up, starting the truck and putting it into drive.

I have had some worries lately, mostly for my daughter who is going through chemotherapy, surgery, and finally radiation to cure her cancer. The difficulty of it all has caused some mental distress for her the last month or so. I am at a loss on what to say most of the time; I think listening to her is probably what is needed. I can’t imagine how hard it must be.

It occurred to me why I should keep working on my journal in the midst of it all, even though I have been slow on posting the last several months. (journeywest.com) Having eyes for the beauty on this earth is a way of seeing yourself through difficult times. There is nothing wrong with trying to concentrate on and describe thriving rather than suffering.