These ARE the Good Ole Days!

Having moved from the thriving energy of Manhattan to “Fatlanta” in the “aughts decade,” I was pretty miserable. I had not yet established any relationships in Atlanta, and missed my lifestyle back in New York so badly it hurt. I was now owned by a 3 bedroom beige ranch-style home, and confined to house arrest by an imprisoning job. I would sit at my desk with the only 3 x 3 window in the room at my back, and stare at travel pictures on my “Wall of Inspiration.”

My best New York friend Brian had lost his job, also due to the downward spiral that put so many of us Manhattanites out of a job after 9/11. Brian and I would exchange emails about the fun times we’d shared, racing J24 sailboats up and down the Hudson River, sailing charters in the British Virgin Islands, cross country skiing in Lake Placid. Those emails would always end in the same tag phrase, “aaaaahhh….those were the good ole days!”

It was during one of these email exchanges with Brian that it hit me. What am I doing right this red hot minute….right NOW to insure that 10 years from now, I look back on this time in my life and say the same thing? “aaaahhh…those were the good old days!” It was the beginning of the end of my traditional lifestyle. From that point on, I made it my mission to take responsibility for my own happiness. To create something good and playful in my life. I began hiking and camping every weekend. I joined a local Atlanta sailing club. And I started making plans to rid myself of what was left of a 30 year mortgage and enough “stuff” to last just as long.

Ten years later, I look back on that time and realize it was an epiphany that changed my life for the better. I stop often now to check in and ask myself, “Will these be the good old days?” If the answer is “no,” then I need to make a change.

I share many passions with Jim and Gayle. Hiking and biking. Craft beer sampling. But probably the least talked about is our mutual love and taste in music. Every encounter nets me a new playlist. So on this gorgeous day in Mojave Preserve, as we head out to play in the high desert dunes, we have about an hours drive ahead of us. Jim picks us out a playlist…coincidentally, songs from that same “aught decade.”

So queue up Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s ukulele in “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World.” We’re off to play in the Kelso Dunes! Aaaaaahhh, yes, these ARE the good ole’ days!

Kelso Depot, built 1924. Serviced the LA to Salt Lake route of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Kelso Depot, built 1924. Serviced the LA to Salt Lake route of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Kelso Depot has a nice display of railroad memorabilia. Just don't ask the tall, dark and handsome Ranger about any of it. He's there for looks only. ;-)

Kelso Depot has a nice display of railroad memorabilia. Just don’t ask the tall, dark and handsome Ranger about any of it. He’s there for looks only. 😉

Siri? You've come a long way, Baby!

Siri? You’ve come a long way, Baby!

Evening Primrose are prolific over the lower areas of Kelso Dunes

Evening Primrose are prolific over the lower areas of Kelso Dunes

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Kelso Dunes were named after the town, Kelso, which was named after a railroad worker. They put 3 worker's names in a hat to draw for the name of the town, and Mr. Kelso won.

Kelso Dunes were named after the town, Kelso, which was named after a railroad worker. They put 3 worker’s names in a hat to draw for the name of the town, and Mr. Kelso won.

The kelso dune field is 45 square miles.

The kelso dune field is 45 square miles.

This is Jim's protest stance. "You know? I've seen enough!"

This is Jim’s protest stance. “You know? I think I’ve seen enough.”

The tallest dune is 650 ft.

The tallest dune is 650 ft.

The beautiful slip-face, my favorite part of the dune.

The beautiful slip-face, my favorite part of the dune.

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The Kelso Dunes are known for their “singing,” or “booming.

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This phenomena of “singing dunes” needs three criteria to resonate.

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The sand grains must be round and of a certain diameter, must contain silica, and must be at a certain humidity level.

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The noise may be generated by friction between the grains or by the compression of air between them.

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This “singing” or “booming” occurs when you cause sand to fall or cascade down the slope.

Internet sources say only approx 35 dune fields in the world have the right conditions to “sing.”

Couldn't come to the top without feeling the sand between my toes.

Couldn’t come to the top without feeling the sand between my toes.

This hill is much steeper than it looks, so much so that we could not see the bottom while standing at the top,.

This hill is much steeper than it looks, so much so that we could not see the bottom while standing at the top,.

Running or jogging down these dunes is an ALL OUT BLAST!!

Running or jogging down these dunes is an ALL OUT BLAST!!

So much beauty in this desert!

So much beauty in this desert!


“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

~ Steve Jobs

17 thoughts on “These ARE the Good Ole Days!

  1. That is a great way to look at your life! We too were working just to pay for our house, cars and our stuff! It was really eye-opening when we started adding it up and how little money we needed when we started subtracting those items. It was then that we decided….why are we doing this?

  2. Death Valley Dune – by Ansel Adams – ain’t got nuthin’ on you, Kid! Those are excellent dune shots. I particularly like the photo of the dune with the scalloped edges – could almost hear them singing. Been there, but didn’t know about the singing, and certainly didn’t hear any. Must return – especially to see the finished train depot. They were just starting to collect money for the proposed restoration when we were there – oh, so long ago. So many places to see again/for the first time – so little time!

    Virtual hugs,

    Judie

  3. Susan,
    Once again your words have reawakened in me the stir, the ecstatic experience that I so yearn. I’ve been in a rut ping-ponging back and forth from station to station (Florida to PA). Due to you, I’m going back to my pinball wizardry ways, traveling for the journey instead of the destination.
    Thanks again,
    GypsyLarry

  4. Love the Jobs quote. Such a good question to ask every single day, “do I really want to do what I’m going to do today?” Life is short. If you aren’t making “good ol’ days”, you are wasting it. Love your dune field pictures. That one with “three criteria” in the text is just fabulous. And the ones before that and the ones after that. Really what a day! Did they sing for you?

    • Hi, Sherry — Yes, we did hear the singing, but it sounded more like “humming”
      to me. You have to force the movement of the sand downhill, so once we started down the steep slope, the humming started. I would stop to listen, but of course when I would stop, so would the sand movement. It was fascinating, almost enough so to make me want to climb the dune again!

  5. I knew that the Kelso Dunes sang, but never got to hear it when we were there. For who knows what reason, the washboards deterred us and we ambled on over to other magical places. Next time I must hear that sound. Does no one ever record it?

  6. Love the quote from Steve Jobs. We often question what other people do but forget to question ourselves. We have driven past here so many times and didn’t know they were there. Another one to put on the to do list. thank you

  7. I plan on getting active again. I have a friend who is very active in a group that camp, canoe, hike and even help paint the local elementary schools. I plan on joining his group at times this year. Time to live again!

  8. Beautiful photos of the dunes. Didn’t know about the ‘slip face of the dune’. I can see why you like it. Thanks.

  9. When you get to Bruneau Dunes ID, be sure to pack your skis or sandboard. Big sport there – about two hours from Boise.

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