Escondido, California. The day (March 4th) began with clear skies and bright sunshine in Sedona. After yesterday I thought I might make a call this morning but in thinking what else I had planned, I said F it, the first phase of this trip is now officially over and I need to do other things. My plan is to hike the Cibola pass, so off I went to the trailhead, it is a trail Sue and I had done several times. I packed my backpack with the bear I am going to leave up there. The walk through the forest is a feast for the senses. Visually there is the red earth, the green trees and plants and the bright blue sky, primary colors. I can smell the intensity of the pinon and juniper and hear the birds in their morning activity. It is a relatively short hike to the Cibola pass, I break off to a remote side of the hill and find the spot under a gnarled old tree facing east. I am leaving one of Sue's bears under the tree so the morning sunshine will shine in her face. I say a few prayers, perform a small ceremony and start to head back. Mental note: when I come back, bring tissues.. On the way back I seem to be floating again, the intensity of the moment melting away and for the first time since her passing I feel a seed of her beginning to grow back inside of me. The symbolism of the moment is something Sue would have loved and appreciated. She is present for me at this time and it is not as painful as her presence has been for me in the past.
The rest of the day is a very large collection of thoughts, feelings and observations that take up the long drive from Sedona to San Diego but I will write them as an addendum to this as I think this should stand alone. Jon