Tea House

 By Mushroom Montoya

I have never ever seen  tea house,
Nor a mouse serving tea.

I've never been inside
A dwelling,
or a structure made from
The leaves of anything
And certainly not tea.

For a house to be a house
It must have at least one room,
If not more,
Where I hang my
Clothes, and keep a bed,
Where I can sleep
Without worry and dread.

Crushed tea leaves
Can't support a roof
To keep out the rain,
Or hold a window
to let in the moon
To tell me stories
Of magic and wonder.

Even if I could
erect a shelter
Made with tea,
A gentle breeze 

could make me freeze
on a frigid Siberian night
When it glides by
to blow me a goodnight kiss.

There'd be no bliss
trying to make a house
Out of tea,
Neither for you
Nor for me.

My Body Is My Vehicle

 

My body is a living vehicle, as one might consider a horse, who obeys most of my commands,  but not all. 

I put my vehicle in a soft blanketed stable for the night.  While it sleeps, I fly out into tangles and brambles of could be, can't be worlds where I try out other vehicles on different terrain.

Every Experience Counts

By Mushroom Montoya

Life may humble me as I age.

My body may slow me down.

And when I stop and think

of all the time

the Creator has gifted to me

I see that I have filled every moment

With experiences.

 

For each and every one

I am grateful.

Even the painful ones have given me

Something to experience,

 

To learn from,

To grow from,

To repeat

Or to avoid

In the future

Or right now.

 

That is how I’ve grown

Into the me that is evolving

Into the me who is here

Right now.

 

Therefore, no time has been wasted.

No time has been lost

Because without each moment ,

Without each experience,

Regardless of how mundane,

 

Each has contributed

To my personal evolution

Making me the me I am

Here and now

Wherever I am.

Controlling Our Mind Is Wrong

By Mushroom Montoya

Some dare to suggest
that we need to control
                                    our minds
So, that we may become
                                        enlightened.

Who, then,
is doing the controlling,
if not
our minds?

I shall do no such travesty
                            upon the majesty
                                                    of my mind.

For to demand control
is to make it behave
In such a way as to be acceptable
to others

Who do not care to know me,
well enough
                    To see
that when my mind is free
it invites creativity.

With that gift,
I can save myself,
And maybe the world,
from insanity.

I prefer to release all control
of my mind,
And encourage it to
                                wander
                                              and wonder,
Allowing creativity to devour it,
whole.

Death Was hungry Last Night

By Mushroom Montoya

In the darkest hours of last night,

After the moon had disappeared,

And slumber had me sleeping,

Death reached up from the floor,

 

Crawled into my bed,

Plumped his butt on my left shoulder,

Pinching my arm,

And sinking his teeth

into the left side of my neck,

startling me wide awake.

 

“No!

Don’t you dare

take me now,”

I said. “I’m not ready.”

 

“I’m hungry,” Death said.

“I’ll take another bite.”

He lifted his face and smashed his teeth,

Stinging and burning

Further into my neck.

 

I swung my head to the left,

Failing to fling him off.

He rolled his face against my jaw

Scratching it with his thorny,

Unshaven whiskers.

 

His breath matched mine,

Breathing in and out,

In and out,

 

Both of us pushing against each other,

While the sneaky bastard slid his fingers

Down my chest,

Toward my belly button,

Reaching for my life force.

 

I grabbed his boney wrist

And yanked it away.

 “No! I am not yours.

Not tonight.”

 

He slowly extracted his teeth

From my neck

And took his heavy butt

Off my shoulder.

His whiskers stung my jaw

As he slunk away.

 

Slumber sat at the edge of my bed

Watching me,

Listening

to my breathing

 

Waiting to be sure

It was a solo breath

Before she closed my eyes

And let sleep return.

 

I could smell Death when I awoke

This morning.

Death took our parakeet,

Since he couldn’t take me.

Click here to Listen

La Mar's Dance

 

Skykomish and Stevens Pass

 

Leaving Stevens Pass

Denise and I picked up John and Anthony at Steven's Pass. The rain had relaxed into sprinkles by the time we arrived at the pass. The guys were wet to the bone from having slept and hiked in the rain. They complained that their feet sloshed inside their muddy boots as they traversed up and down the mountains. Their teeth beamed smiles when they saw us at  Stevens Pass. I opened the trunk and removed my own backpack to make room for their wet backpacks. They worried that they would get the car seats wet and the floor muddy. Denise and I drove 16 miles to a hotel in Skykomish, the nearest town to Stevens Pass.

The men wanted to take showers before eating dinner. But they chose to eat first since they had no dry clothes. We ate dinner at the pub near the hotel, and then I took Anthony to the laundromat to wash and dry their clothes. John stayed in his room, wearing only his underwear until Anthony returned. 

Loud rumbling motorcycles leaving the bar at midnight and trains huffing and puffing all night long at the station across the street kept waking us up. Anthony was up at dawn trying to find a warm wind to dry his wet tent and wet shoes  He found a fence and happily hung his tent on it. And then the sprinklers began to shower his tent. He ran removed his tent and tried to find any dry place to hand his tent and shoes. The poor guy had no luck. He and John repacked their wet tents and although they now had dry socks, they had to put on wet shoes.  

We went to the local cafe, but it was closed. We found a nice coffee shop that only had bagels and muffins to serve for breakfast. The guys were disappointed, but they ordered muffins and coffee anyway. Anthony ordered a double shot macchiato and began to tell the barista how he wanted it. She explained that Starbucks screwed up the meaning because macchiato meant a dollop of foam on top of an espresso. Anthony was happy.

John found a painted rock while he was backpacking between Chinook Pass and Stevens Pass.

We dropped the guys off where we picked them up the day before. 

Chinook Pass Meet Up

Denise and I met Anthony and John at Chinook Pass late this morning. A few days before, we told the guys that we would bring them something to drink. I asked them if they wanted beer. John asked for a tall high calorie can of honey and Gensing tea. Anthony asked for a Coke. 

This morning, I made them each a high calorie sandwich. As I made them, I was going to put in a slice of turkey, I decided to put two big slices in each sandwich.  I received a message from John telling me that started this morning at 6AM. I figured we could meet them a little after 10Am.  I did not anticipate a construction detour. The drive was beautiful, going through the mountains. The speed limit sign went from 55mph to 35. I was worried that the guys would have to wait for us. But it all worked out. The guys arrived at the same time that we did.  

The parking lot at the pass was so packed, people were parking illegally. I parked in a non-parking spot, blocking a car. Luckily the owner did not return to his car while we were there. 

There was no cell phone service for us to find out if they guys were already at chinook Pass and where they were. 

And since we were parked illegally, I asked Denise to wait in the car while I went looking for the guys. I saw John first, across the street. He gave me a strong sweaty hug. Anthony followed and gave me an even sweatier hug. I led them to the car where Denise and I gave them the lunch . They didn't take long to eat the sandwiches and drink a half liter of Coke and tea. I gave Anthony another half liter of Coke and John a bottle of rootbeer. 

After the short rest, they took off.  

I will meet up with them in about 4 days, with another high calorie sandwich and half liters of Coke and Gensing honey tea.

After eating they had to relieve themselves.

And then then too off. 

Around 4PM I received the following message from John:

'Thanks again for the lunch. It was a real energy boost for the climb to 6400 feet. We really appreciate it."

 Chinook Pass is at 5400 feet. 

 

Mount Adams

 

John and Anthony set out looking for water this morning. Puffs of dust poofed at every step. "Hey Anthony, That stream that we crossed was dry. Does your map show how much further to the next lake or stream?" Anthony pulled out his GPS and said, "There is a lake a few miles ahead. Why are you asking? You aren't outta water yet, are ya?" John was out of water and he was thirsty. His cell phone beeped, telling him he had cell phone service. He sent me a message at 10:24 this morning. telling me that he would be at the 410 highway in 5 days. That gives me plenty of time to find a tall can of tea and a cold Coke to give them. He texted that he dreampt about picking up an ice cold Sapporo beer but when he went to take a drink, the can was empty. He threw the can on the ground and a bunch of little guys in Judo gis walked out of the can. They bowed to him and then just as they all jumped on him he woke up. His mouth tasted like stale beer.  The phone below shows the lake where the guys were able to replenish their water supply. 

1,200 zigzag climb

 

Anthony and John Crossed Panther Creek, stopped to replenish their water supply. As John was pumping water through his water filter he looked up at the mountain they were about the climb. Anthony is going to beat me to the top, he thought.  Anthony did beat him, as they both breathed heavily as they trudged up the zig zag 1,200 feet rise from the bottom of the creek up to the top of the ridge. It took them an hour and 15 minutes to climb from Panther Creek to the top of the ridge. When they reach the top that had already hiked 13 miles. Anthony didn't wait too long for John to reach the top. "Why do you think they call that water creek we crossed down, there, Panther Creek?" Anthony asked. 

"Because this mountain range has mountain lions," John said. 

"Are you sure?" Anthony asked. "I didn't see any big cat paw prints on the way up here."
"Was going to point out the ones I saw," John said, "but you were already way ahead of me."

Anthony squinted his eyes, not wanting t believe what John had told him. 
They stopped hiking at 7:03 PM. As Anthony set up his tent, he looked around all around on the dirt for mountain lion paw prints. John watched him. "What are doing?" he asked. 
"Nothing," Anthony replied immediately. "I'm just making sure there are no sharp rocks where I am going to set up my tent."
John rolled his eyes and said, "Just make sure you don't have any food in your pockets before you go to sleep."
Anthony ignored John and went about collecting crunchy leaves and twigs. He placed them all around his tent.

"What are you going to do if you hear something walking on those noise makers?" John asked. "You won't know if its a mountain lion, a bear, or a marmot."

"I wish I could scream when I get scared like Mushroom does, Remember when I hid behind the tree and scared him? He screamed so loud, he scared me."

They brought out their mini stoves, heated some water and made dinner. As they were putting their food in the bear canisters, Anthony stopped. "Did you hear that, John?"

It was already dark. The moonlight cast long shadows on the ground. John listened. "I don't hear anything except your heart racing around the inside of your chest."

"Let's walk together to put our bear canisters away from our tents," Anthony said.

As they were walking back to their tents, Anthony shained his flashlight ahead of him. Two glowing eyes light up. 

Crossing the Columbia on John's Birthday

John woke up on his birthday in a clean bed. At first, he seemed disoriented. And then as sleep slipped away and the sunlight brightened the room, he remembered that he and Anthony had stepped on the toes of Mount hood and had reached the Columbia River. Anthony asked John if he wanted to spend his birthday at the hotel, eat, drink, and be merry for the day. John said he didn't want to waste a day hanging around a hotel. Anthony argued that, at least,  they should wait until 7:00 when the restaurant opened so they could get a hot breakfast, with eggs and bacon, pancakes, orange juice, and maybe a fresh blueberry muffin.  John was tempted. But the itch to finish the 2,650 mile backpacking hike was gnawing at him. They left at 6:22 AM. 

 

Anthony and John Run into a Fire

 

Anthony woke up just before sunrise. An eerie silence hovered over his tent. He sat up, unzipped his tent, and looked over to John's tent. He whispered, "Hey John. Are you awake?" No response. Anthony got out of his tent, put on his shoes, and considered taking his flashlight. Although the sun hadn't risen, there was enough light to see. He walked a short distance from his tent to pee on a tree trunk. As he unzipped up his pants the aroma of smoke accosted his nose. He looked around for an orange glow. He didn't see anything. The smoke scent grew stronger as he relieved himself. He finished peeing, zipped his pants, and walked over to John's tent. 
"John! Wake up."

"What time is it?" John asked.

"It doesn't matter," Anthony said. "There is a fire somewhere near here. The smoke is getting thicker."

The sun chased the black sky away, but it had still not risen over the mountains. 

John got out of his tent, stretched, yawned, and coughed. "Let's eat breakfast," John said. "If I can get any cell phone reception, I'll see if we are in any danger."

But there was no cell phone reception. As they ate breakfast and packed up their gear, they decided to keep going north, since there was no indication of where the smoke might be coming from or where the fire might be.

Green Leafy Forest

 

By Mushroom Montoya

 

I floated down the zig zag path

To cast a net around those trees,

To get down on my knees,

And scoop a bowl full of gurgling stream,

Sprinkled with moss, berries, and banana slug slime.

 

I opened my pockets just in time

To pour the quacks and chirps

The birds and ducks dropped along the shore.

 

I wanted clouds to carve a trail

from where you are

To the dragonflies,

whose gossamer wings

Sing sparkling starlight into our eyes.

 

I wrapped a box with buzzing of bees

And tied it with a ribbon of mossy aroma

From the moistened forest floor.

 

When you open the box
You’ll feel the fox

Stroke your cheek

With evergreen ferns

Growing at all of the turns

And twists with the will o’the wisp

Of this green leafy forest.

 

Cottonwood Glee

Cottonwood Glee

By Mushroom Montoya

 

Mi Gato, Milton

By Mushroom Montoya

 

Driving and bouncing,

Front wheels bumping

Up and down over a grumpy

Pair of railroad tracks,

 

A scream jolts my hands,

Compressing the steering wheel,

Turning it to the right,

Pushing my foot on the brake.

 

I slow the van to a stop.

My heart is racing

And chasing the screamer

Hidden under the hood.

 

I wish I could

See it

Before I lift

The heavy steel engine cover.

 

I’m afraid I’ll discover

Cat gut splatter

All over

The engine.

 

My fingers squeeze the latch.

My eyes turn not wanting to catch

The bloody gore of a shredded cat

As I lift the van’s engine hood.

 

What is this?

A wide yellow eyed,

Terrified,

White cat

 

Lying on

The radiator cover

With its left and right front claws

Still gripping on.

 

Dare I extend my hand

And lift this cat out?

Will it scream and shout

And bite me?

 

I slide one hand under its belly,

The other slowly over its back.

My voice slow and gentle

“Come on cat,

I won’t hurt you.”

 

As I lift his resistant body up

His left paw cautiously

Comes unhinged

And then his right.

 

I hold him close to my heart

Letting its beats

Tell him

I mean no harm.

 

His muscles relax,

Going limp

As I put him into the passenger seat

Before closing the engine’s lid.

 

“Thank you,” he says

When I climb into the van.

“You saved my life!

 

I now lay claim

On you and yours

For as long as I love

And live.”

Click Here To Listen

 

The Wrong Rock

 I enjoyed this Award Winning CGI Animated Short Film: "The Wrong Rock" by Michael Cawood @ HEROmation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDaNejmf-1A&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR31Ho1W6I402r2_I_RMiqBotwsboze9aLIQvfm7AbOBmSsFR-HUfcb1Isg