Moab

Challenges continued. I thought the day before had been difficult, but yesterday was a yawn compared to Day 8.

We found a sweet camp and plein air location on Willow Springs road. The thing about Moab public lands is that often every direction you face is spectacular and inspiring. We tucked in for a full day of creating. With a unique view in all cardinal directions, we popped up our canopy and chased the shade provided throughout the morning and afternoon.

Work Space

Next up on the menu, thunderheads in the near distance. A few drops and threatening clouds prompted me to pack up the entire camp in case a downpour was minutes away. But it never arrived.

As temperatures climbed, I was grateful for the cover. But as I continued to drag my chair to edge of the shadow for relief, I wondered how did the prehistoric society of Fremont survive these brutal conditions? Perhaps we should be hunting for cool in the ground, as they did with their pithouses.

I began to brainstorm my own survival plan for the hottest hours of the day. Rex suggested playing games, like the kingdom of Lydia did during a famine. People were suffering and starving. What do you do when you’re hungry but there’s nothing to eat? You play games. The kingdom took turns. On Monday, you eat. And on Tuesday, you game (without food). Playing different dice games, they survived several years of famine this way.

Heat Wave

But could we beat the heat with games? We did bring backgammon and UNO but I was unsure the distraction would suffice.

Soon, the blazing dry heat was not the only element or challenge we faced. Just as I brainstormed a survival plan of action, the wind kicked up. At first, the breeze felt nice and helped wick away sweat. Pleasant until the gentle whisper turned into screaming zephyr aimed at throwing red dirt in every available crevice. We climbed inside the truck for a moment to cry the dust from our eyes. But the wind simmered just in time for the biting ants to march out in search of their dinner. One ambitious ant crawled and climbed almost to the very top of Rex, making camp in between his shoulder blades, where it proceeded to bite into the sweaty flesh until I yanked it away.

As I suffered through each element, I attempted to take a few steps back to view the bigger picture. What does it take to endure challenging moments? What does it take to thrive during difficult times?