It’s Thursday and yesterday was quite an interesting day. I managed to get my taxes to the tax preparer finally, only today I need to gather a few more things because things changed so much in 2009.

I’m up early this morning to get a head start on a day, which like yesterday, is full of potential for falling apart in a spectacular way.

So, today’s photograph is a picture of a cactus flower. I don’t know what kind of cactus, but it’s pretty common here. These beautiful blooms are paper thin and delicate and almost transparent when the sun hits them just right.

I saw it one day when I was stressed and in a real hurry to get out of here. As I was pulling out of the driveway, I saw a splash of color in my cactus planter. I stopped the vehicle, got out, got my camera and shot this picture of a gorgeous pink cactus flower.

There’s some history behind my enjoyment of these flowers. One June day (I think it was in the 90s), my ex and I went for a drive up Unaweep Canyon. When we got to Gateway, he headed west on a road that took us through a valley. As we traveled further into the little valley, I noticed that the valley floor was covered with color. That color was these blooming cacti. Completely covering the ground, on either side of the road, were spots of bright pink (like the pink in this picture), spots of bright yellow, and then what appeared to be a mix of those two colors—a light peachy orange. I think that was the first time I’d seen that variation, although it does show up around this area, too.

I’ve never seen a valley floor covered with color like I saw that day. Of course, I haven’t been up that road again at that time of year. I think, also, that was one of those things, accidental and perfectly timed.

That was one of the last times I went camping with George because of his penchant for scaring me with the terrain in which he chose to drive. At one point during that drive, I like to tell how he had a five-foot wide vehicle on a four-foot wide road. It was a switchback road, sandy and unsolid, and it included a shear drop. Eventually, I got out and walked until it looked safe again. I’m really not even sure why I went there with him that day, except that he had a way of guilting me into doing things I’d rather not. I love it outside, but he made it frightening for me, so I didn’t like going with him. This trip was the trip that solidified my resolve not to go with him again — and I don’t think I ever did.

In any case, when I saw this flower, smiling from the planter that day, brightening and lightening my day a great deal in the process, I was reminded of that June afternoon many years ago. Since I didn’t have a camera at the time, it is only a memory.

I need to get on with this day. I have a lot of work to do, and I have time to make up from yesterday’s personal difficulties. I have to ask some questions also, to move forward with some work.

I hope today goes more smoothly.

Cheers!