The lights

It is nighttime, and we have chosen to spend a few days where we are. We are in a small clearing in the middle of a large open space between the mountains. Much like the horses I am skittish. I worry about us, our food supply, our safety, our very future. A little while ago, the family gravitated to the fire, just to watch the show the sky was putting on for us. I watched them all.The little ones and even their parents had a sense of wander, of awe, and a sense of belonging that created an air of peace that was undeniable. It made me think far into the future, to you, of who you are, and of how this all turned out, and I realized for the first time  my place in the world. It is here, in this clearing, under these lights, and yes feeling these tremors. It is my calling to lead my family into the future, to the distant horizon. I looked to the sky, not to cringe in fear, but to appreciate what was there, a glorious kaeidoscope of color, formed against all the stars in the heavens, held the hand of Rose, my beloved wife, glanced at my family, and for tonight, I am at peace.  Come what may, we will survive.  

A Change in the Air

Something terrible happened today. It has been four days since being snowed in, and we are in far northern Colorado. All day the horses were skittish. Twice we felt ground tremors. Last night we saw a both beautiful, and terrible sight. The Northern Lights. Though they are a true wonder to behold, they are not supposed to be visible in this area. This morning we found dead birds all over. I am unsure what has occured, but the two events together can be only an omen of things to come.
this afternoon we saw an avalanche of snow cascading from a high mountain not from from us.  Of  course it spooked the horses, and they almost bolted.  Tonight, again,  we see the Northern lights, and the horses will not settle down. They know something is wrong.  Just now another ground tremor. Will have to be extra careful in all we do now. I can hear the kids crying, they are scared. I wonder if the panic that started the EOW was in someway a result of the "herd instinct" we humans were feeling, as the result of some great cataclysm yet to come.  Maybe the snow of a few days ago was due to changing weather patterns brought on by this new global event. The kids are still crying, maybe I can help calm them down, although it is a calm I do not feel.

Snowed in

We are in a valley between three high mountains and for the second day now, have been snowed in. As a matter of survival, we all carry jerky, and water with us. My biggest worry is the horses. When John, who was on guard, woke us with the news of the heavy snow, it took us completely by surprise. The snow is chest high, in only six hours. Had to turn the horses loose.
third day: It has quit snowing during the night, and has gotten a little warmer. Still can't see the horses. Worried.
fourth day: The snow is melting, thank God, and the horses are not here. they must have run off in the snow. Maybe by tomorrow we can try to track them. Had to dig out a place outside the tent for the dogs to you know what.
fifth day: The snow is only knee high this morning. By noon we should be able to look for the horses. Putting out water, and quaker oats hoping they will smell it and come back. Abby says horses are more intelligent than dolphins or whales,  and almost psychic about direction. Still we will look.
night time-fifth day: Found most of the horses. Two perished in the cold, one, an older cutting horse, and a mare who they trained as a barrel racer. We have been lucky, and it is good to be out of the tent.  We will adjust.  The older boys are sleeping outside their tents tonight, and Rose and I are joining them. Tent packed away and sleeping under the stars. Under a clear sky, it is very cold, but all the stars in Heaven watch over us this night.

Our Little Hero

When we left our home in the Lincoln National Forest, we took two little ones with I have failed to mention.  Our dogs. One a miniature gray Poodle, and a yorkie. Belle. To be more correct, Miss Texas Belle, who occupies a position of honor, and safety, riding on the lap of Rose, and mostly sleeping. At times she asserts her independance by sleeping in someone elses tent and curling up at the bottom of one of their sleeping bags, when it gets really cold, she wiggles her way inside the bag, and comfort.
Tonite she was in our tent, and sleeping peacefully, when I heard her growling, and barking at the door of the tent, our poodle, noogie, joined the fray, though still a little unsure. I was up in a moment, and had my rifle. The minute I got the door open, Belle got out, and took off. I didn't know a little dog could run that fast. A large brown bear was sniffing around, trying to decide between the food, or our horses for dinner. It was a bad mistake on his part. He was between me and the horses, so I hestitated to shoot. Belle had no such hesitation. She was aided in her efforts by Noogie, from a rear position. I watched as this small dog, no bigger than a rabbit, ran in barking, snarling, growling, and snapping. The first pass she got a piece of the bears leg, and from there took hunks from various places on the bears body. It quickly became clear to me that the bear was outclassed. As soon as he turned to face this little demon dog, she was already someplace else. Already with another piece of bear in her chops. Noogie had worked up his courage, and worked with Belle, feasting on bear hide. Those two little dogs were getting the best of Mr. Bear, and when he realized that fact, decided to vacate the premises,  chased by a little gray poodle, and the little yorkie deciding she wasn't ready for the bear to go just yet, hanging on by what few teeth she had left.
I hollered for her a few times, and she let go, barked, and snarled her disapproval at the bears sudden departure, and strutted back to her place at the bottom of my bag.
I will not discuss the praise those two little dogs got, or the treats, or petting they got, except to say that everyone in our party understands that "our littlest hero" can sleep anywhere she wants.

The high mountains

It has been one week since sighting the traffic jam. The weather, though cold, has been mild. I took the lead this morning, giving Reese a break, Ann being all the more greatful, giving the four of them a little down time. I broke a cardinal rule this morning, and let my young grandson ride with me on point.  It was no oversight. He is seven years of age, and since the EOW, has grown as wild as the wind above the mountains. He is solid muscle, strong for his age, and has hit his growing spurt just recently. Thank God for the seamstress women in our family.
I let him ride in front of me, telling him I "needed an extra set of eyes".  He has learned his woodcraft with amazing quickness.  Someday he will surpass me, his father, and uncle. It is a great comfort to me to know he is learning so well, and to see this child, blood of my blood, a generation removed, knowing our family is alive in him, and in my granddaughter, who at every camp, is right there with the women of our family, learning, growing and doing all she can to lend a hand. Yesterday, her uncle John came back from hunting with a scratch, and I watched her take a survival kit from her pocket, sit him down, and with the skill of a professional nurse, clean the wound, bandage it, and tell him, "uncle John, you gotta be more careful".  It brought a lump to my throat that didn't want to stay down. 
We sit around the fire, in a clearing, surrounded by the High Rockies. A light snow is falling. My wife rose, a love of many years, is with me, reading over my shoulder, and has a secret look of satisfaction on her face. This journal I keep, was her idea. Someday,  far in the future, our decendants will sit, much like we are tonight, and know how things came to be.  Lifes greatest blessings, sometimes disguised in tragedy, lead us to a brighter future.

The Trail

I can smell it in the air, I can feel the cold coming. In the years following the downfall of society we have been far, my family and I.  What started from a small farming community on the plains of Texas, has led us here. I sit astride a tall American Quarter Horse, followed by my wife, Rose, my 2 daughters, Abby and Shawna, thier husbands, John and Scott. Two grandchildren are riding with thier parents.  By luck and providence my sister Ann and husband Reese and two sons, joined us in the canyon that was once our home.
 We agreed to head north into the mountains to escape the violence that threatened our lives. We follow the old National Trail System riding north, east of what was once Durango Colorado. There was a light snow last night, and though the temperature is only about 41 degrees, I can feel the cold coming. It is strange how things have changed,  we are for all intents and purposes living 400 years in the past, riding through the remnants of a modern civilization. Late yesterday as we went through a high pass, we saw below what remained of a traffic jam that had turned ugly. It was obvious the people had turned on each other and no one had survived. It served to remind me how fortunate we have been, and how planning ahead has saved our lives. Though it has been difficult, we have grown much closer as a family. The cost of 12 riding horses and 4 pack horses was my favorite AR-15 and 160 rounds of ammunition. I now carry my grandfathers Marlin lever action rifle, and it has served me as well, if not better.
Reese is leading us along the river, and I am riding drag. Daily I thank God for blessing us with the skills neccessary to survive. Abby has learned alot about horses, Rose is our resident medic, Reese an excellant guide and crack shot, and Shawna has made a good school teacher. Just as our ancestors did many years ago, we survive by neccessity, and though the weather is turning cold, we ride north, into the mountains. Strength of family, and faith in God will see us through, and come what may, we will survive