Being here is strange.

If I’d gone to the beach I’d have been content in my solitude, sat alone for hours on the beach with a book and nary a thought about being isolated.

Here on top of the mountain I’m all too aware of it, with the sounds of the social activities going on below, folks traveling in laughing packs, giving 5′s to passers by/fellow riders, and my having forgotten to pack Troy (and the gnome!). I’m so completely out of my element, out of my comfort zone and out of line. Maybe it’s because J kicked my ass at checkers twice last night after dinner. Who knows.

To pass some time before the big kid races start at 2 (men’s cross country) & 2:15 (women’s cross country) I took the chairlift down the mountain (strange that you would go down instead of up?) to the lake. The lake wasn’t all that, but seeing deer on the way back who were snacking not far from the course trail made me all geeky like a little kid and brought my smile back.

The wind was going off in spurts earlier and the leaves on a few of the trees were turning themselves over, Keith taught me years ago that’s a sign it’s going to rain. For now the fog has burned off, there are a gang of dark clouds have been doing laps around us for hours and the sun is trickling down.

Hm. Poignant.

A package of Nutter Butters and a glass of milk acquired from the mercantile are about to make everything all better. Expect an update (if you care) post finish around 4:30EST.

Kissy boo.