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Have you ever had that internal conversation that goes something like this:

“Michael, why did you do that or – Michael why didn’t you anticipate that?”

I have a question. Who is in there with us? Who do we speak to in our Mind? I decided to think about it.

I imagine my Mind as an infinite dark place. Three low ground fires sit in a triangular space. Between the fires three torch lights illuminate the darkness from pike poles, casting shadows but ample light. In the center is a round table and six heavy chairs. A comfortable place for thinking without distraction. A place for honest discussions.

I next began to imagine who sits at the round table of my Mind. Who make up the parts of Me?

The Warrior/Protector:

I was raised to be this, the oldest Son. More than once my life has been threatened and I’ve had to fight for it. I’m hard to kill.

It is better to be a Warrior in a garden than a Gardner in a war.

The Warrior sees things only in Black and White – He seeks Respect and Honor.

The Romantic:

The Romantic is where my Hope, Dreams and Passion reside. He is awash with the color of Women and loves them all, or tries to. The writer of love letters, the artist. He is the one that types the words you read.

The Romantic can only sees the Best in everything and everybody – Always hopeful but easily wounded.

The Male Animal:

Part of me is a strong male animal chained to the ground. When unchained women love him and men fear him. I believe this is the rarest part of Me and my most celebrated. I know that someday he will be the first to die, curled in the corner, still. But today, on this day, I rejoice…

Animal doesn’t communicate in words, he is scent driven and cannot be reasoned with. He doesn’t obey orders.

The Child:

This is where my enthusiasm springs from, the child within me. Unashamed, inquisitive, open. When I lay on the ground and stare at clouds the child prodded me to do so. Some have said I seem so alive – they witnessed the child at play. He is the Flyer of kites.

The child thinks like a child.

The Dark Ones:

The ones I still search for and don’t know where to look.

The Thinker/Realist:

Everything is measured the same way by the Thinker. From Gods to used cars it all goes through a scientific way of thinking. Testable, repeatable, demonstrable and observable are always requirements. He has full veto power over whatever shit the others collectively come up with. Sometimes the Romantic will call on Animal and the Protector for support at the table but the Thinker always has override authority.

The Thinker sees things in bright light, real and exposed – often harsh – painful.

A Meeting of the Mind:

They gather again at the table of decisions. The Universe has placed another fork in the road for our consideration.

The Thinker speaks first…

© 2016, Michael Fulcher. All rights reserved.

July 11th, 2009

This is just a day ride through Zion and on towards Kanab and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Weather: Nearly perfect all day until I returned through Zion. Once on the West side of the tunnel I was hit by a wave of desert heat. Temps reached nearly 100 degrees. Ride early and higher elevations.

After leaving Zion, via the East entrance station, I continued on towards Kanab. There wasn’t much traffic.

The rest of this report will be about my destination, Best Friends pet cemetery.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located North of Kanab. They are a sancuary of last resort for many animals. I think they house several hundred dogs. They also care for cats, horses, birds and reptiles.

If you watch “Dogtown” on NatGeo it is about this place. They are the ones that took possession of Michael Vick’s fighting dogs and trained them for adoption. They have placed many of the dogs already.

Here is a link to their website. www.bestfriends.org

If you are looking for a way to enrichen your life move to Kanab and donate all of your time to this fine cause. You’ll be happy…

I only visited the pet cemetery. There are hundreds of pets buried here. Many with headstones and personal keepsakes. I was touched by the emotion of the place.

Caution, lumps in the throat are possible from here on out.

Painted rocks

There are also hundreds of windchimes thought out the cemetery. When they ring in unison an eerie sound fills the canyon.

I sat in the shade of a gazebo and thought about the pets of my past.

Each gazebo had a water jug and bowl for visiting animals. Being an animal myself, and having run out of water, I had some. Not sick so far. 

After a couple of hours I headed back towards Zion. I stopped at the Thunderbird for a shake (that they don’t make anymore). You can still get the “Ho Made” pies though.

I made it home in time for dinner. I gave my dogs an extra scratch behind the ears.

© 2009 – 2020, Michael Fulcher. All rights reserved.