We were skiing at Wanoga Snow Park by 9:30 this morning. It was Bob’s first attempt at skiing since his toe sprain. Though he was still in some pain the day was so perfect for skiing–not a cloud in the sky, no wind, 28 degrees, and four inches of new snow–that he kept going despite the discomfort. We played on a shallow hill, doing 3 to 4 tele turns per “run”. Well, I don’t know if you could call what Bob was doing a telemark turn, but he did change directions from time to time and got down the slope. Next, we moved off to the east, through the utility road pass in the dense forest, coming out at a clearing that drops off steadily towards town. From this vantage point you can look out on the whole of Bend, and the desert lands of Central Oregon flowing east to the horizon. I’d hoped to play on a perfectly pitched hill that has been mostly logged and is just right for my telemark skill level but Bob’s toe was getting worse so we turned back. On the return trip we were skiing directly toward Mt. Bachelor and the Three Sisters. The view was spectacular. During the last 20 minutes of the outing the snow was getting sticky so we quit a few minutes before reaching the two-hour mark so we could call it a fantastic day of skiing.

 

Back home the lovely weather just kept getting better and I couldn’t bring myself to sit inside working so I spent most of the afternoon working in my garden. I haven’t done that for six months and I can already tell I’ll have sore muscles tomorrow. I love getting my hands in the dirt. I don’t wear gloves and I pay attention to the bugs and grubs and worms and all the other hidden lives of the soil.

 

In some places the earth was still frozen and hard to work, others with strong southerly exposures, were dry and already in need of water. No wonder gardening is such a tactile and real experience for connecting with nature and the cycles of the season. Working in my yard helps me see with clarity the moods and energy of the earth, which in turn is an exact reflection of my own moods and energy. If you pay attention to this phenomenon perhaps you’ll notice it in yourself too. I’ve used the tool of gardening for many years to help me manage what doctors have diagnosed in me as manic-depression, or bi-polar disease. I’ve created my own relationship and understanding of this situation and prefer to call it the seasonal cycles of Dawn. Soon, I’ll have a draft of my book, The Nature of Depression, posted on this website. Perhaps my interpretation of my mood fluctuations and my approach to dealing with it (treatment??) will resonate with you.