My parents and family friend Brad Foster were kind enough to visit me on Monday, and they took me out to a wonderful lunch at Tenaya Lodge. The food was excellent--artichoke dip with pita chips, some Indian curry soup I could not pronounce, and a wonderful lemon-lavender creme brulee--but the company was even better. After this, since Brad had never been to Yosemite before, we took him to the Big Trees at Mariposa Grove and took the tram tour. I was floored by the sheer stubbornness of such trees as the Grizzly Giant, the Faithful Couple, and the Bachelor and the Three Graces to last out through several centuries worth of fires and droughts.
Eventually, we came back here to Wawona, stopping at the store for food. My bosses gave my guests the grand tour of the camp, highlighting the wonderful new improvements that are about to be made to the camp. They were happy to see Brad, as he had once been their employer, making for a very joyous reunion. Also, when I turned in for the evening, my new room mate, Megan, was there. She is a wonderful, lively girl who plays the guitar beautifully and makes good conversation. I feel very lucky to be staying with her.
Brad and my parents bade me goodbye the next morning as I went back to work. When I got off, I was walking away from the lodge when I found Donny, our videographer, staring at something at the foot of the stairs. I went over to investigate, and it was a very handsome alligator lizard. We chased it for sometime until we caught it and took it to the nature center, where I somehow wound up teaching a cabin of girls about cats. That afternoon, I went to the river for a swim, which was remarkably refreshing, steeling me for the news I received that night that my aunt and uncle's land burned while they were away on a hike. I was shocked and saddened by the news--it was beautiful land, with wild oaks and rolling hills.
For Independence Day, we celebrated our weekly rodeo with extra patriotic spirit, doing the same activities as before, but just with a slightly more enthusiastic bent. Red, white, and blue was everywhere, and I enjoyed singing along to the country music in the background as I served popcorn. The cowboy play was even better than last week--they had had more rehearsal, and more colorful costumes.
Today was my day off, and this time my wrangler friend, Alexandra, and I spent it together, first watching a very ridiculous 80's movie called The Labrynth on my computer, then hitching a ride to Oakhurst with the camp director and his wife. There, we spent some very relaxing time perusing a book store before catching another ridiculous movie, Transformers. We had lunch at a nearby pizzeria before returning here. All in all, it was a very fun day, and I'm glad I was able to spend it with Alexandra.
The new work schedule has just come out, and I will be off July 9, 13, 17, 19, 23, and 28, very much subject to change. I have plans for July 9 and July 13 will very likely change, but just about any other of those dates is open. In the last few days, I've gotten to know one of the more seasoned staff members here, Myron, and he remembers when my mother, father, aunt, and uncle were here, so it's been interesting to talk with him.
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