The Days Go By

It is early when you open your eyes. You lay in your bed a little longer. It's already getting warm out. It is definitely going to be a hot day. The sun is still behind the distant mountains. The warm rays cover the yellow land around you with a beautiful orange. The orange envelopes everything. You take a couple shots with your camera then you go inside and eat breakfast.  It's much cooler in the house than out in that hot sunlight. The dogs are over playing in their pool. The temperature is already in the 80s and still rising.

You look at the land that sprawls out before you. The plants, even weeds, are all yellow. The land is parched from the ongoing drought. The reservoir up the road used to always run over the interstate nearby. But ever since the drought struck the waters have receded. It gets worse though. The reservoir has a leak so it holds very little water. Usually by August the reservoir is completely dried up. The drought has also run all wild animals out of the area, except for rabbits, birds, snakes, and some coyotes. The drought has also brought the land around you a major setback. Because the land is so dry, it is very susceptible to wildfires. Just a single spark from two pieces rock hitting each other could start a raging fire that destroys hundreds of acres.

The yellow fields of the plants look like a yellow slate table. There is no wind so nothing moves. The leaves on the nearby trees don't even shudder. You walk over to the water hydrant and let the hot water run out of the green rubber hose onto the dry powdered dirt. When the water becomes cool, you drink some and pour it over your head. Well water has always tasted better than county water. Plus, the coolness on your head feels so good and makes you feel refreshed. Your sister found some extra water balloons from last time and asks you to help her fill them. You fill a bucket with balloons and wait for your parents to find you. Your sister throws a balloon at your brother, but it doesn't burst on impact. Instead, the balloon bounces off and only bursts after it hits the ground. Your uncle throws one at your dad and again the balloon bounces off. Your dad grabs his side. He then grabs a balloon and aims for you. You don't notice until you feel a pain as if someone just slapped you hard on your lower back. It stings for a short time. The sting turns into a light ache, The balloons keep bouncing off everyone, so you change tactics. You run up behind your dad and pop a balloon over his head. The water soaks him. The fight continues until the artillery runs out.

The water keeps everyone cool while they work. You stay for a couple hours and visit. The temperature just keeps getting hotter. You go over to a hydrant soak your head in the cool water. You finish up your work and must get going. You say your goodbyes and get your dog in the vehicle. The hot air is stifling in the vehicle until the a/c cools. You wave goodbye as the vehicle starts rolling. The ocean of yellow swallows your vehicle. The dry weeds fly by and grasshoppers leap at the car. Your sister has her window open and one of the insects gets in. She rolls her window up a little and throws the thing back out and rolls her window up the rest of the way. The windows, block the heat from coming in. But nothing stops the drying and yellowing of the land.

The land is dry until you get past Boise and into the farmland. Staring at the farmland that keeps shrinking makes you think. A question pops into your head: why do they keep building on the farmland and not out where your grandparent's house is. You pass through the cities and towns. The sky is stormy and every now and then it sprinkles. The gray sky begets a dreary atmosphere all around you. The wind is blowing, which causes the trees you pass to reach towards the west. You push westward with the wind.

The wind dies down and the trees are still when you enter Oregon. The land is still dry. The whole west coast is being affected by the huge drought. You see people with piles of hay and prices per bale are high. It used to be $5 a bale, now it is $8 and up. Horses stand in barren fields in the hot sun. Some of the horses sleep other munch on the yellow weeds. The land starts to gain some green after you get past Baker City. There are fields of hay, alfalfa, grain, and other crops. You see a couple deer out in a field eating some crops. They don't seem to pay any attention to the world around them. But they actually take in every detail. You pass by fields of horses and see a baby running around. You see another horse standing under a sprinkler to get cool. You wouldn't mind joining it under the sprinkler. You get to La Grande where you meet your other grandfather at a restaurant. You sit and talk for an hour until you must leave again.

After you leave the sunsets over lush green fields of grapes, orchards, and grain. It's dark in no time and the moon is nowhere to be seen. You stop in Ellensburg, Washington. The air is still warm. And you're grateful for the cold a/c. It blows across your skin. The cool air relaxes you, and you don't notice when you fall asleep.