Three Stories
by Terry Brinkman

Northern Lights over Old Faithful

 

Mother’s-Day Twenty-Twenty Four my wife and I went to Yellowstone to celebrate Mother’s Day.  This was a three night trip, the first night we stayed in a king suite in the historic Lake Hotel, the first time we had stayed in the Lake Hotel. The night was opening night for Twenty-Twenty Four, the hotel is closed for the winter season being this was the first night of the year there was a great deal on the suite (the lake is still frozen over). Normally we would not stay in a suite. As we went to the my truck to load our luggage; a guy asked “ Did you see the northern lights last night” a no, so he showed us his phone with the pic he took last night, “ you might be able to see them tonight”  great! My wife started looking up on her phone how we could see the Northern Lights tonight. Tonight we are staying at the Old Faithful Inn in the old house, the old section of the hotel with no bath in the room and a shared bath down the hall. From a suite to a room for two nights with a shared bath. We completed packing and headed on the road trip to Old Faithful with stops planned at West Thumb (located on the west thumb of Lake Yellowstone) to walk the boardwalk around the hot pools and mud pots. Spotting serval Bison off the road side a lot of timer there is a Bison Jam. (where bison are blocking the road and you need to wait for them to move before you can go.)  

We arrived at the Old Faithful Inn around noon, we checked in but could not get our room until around Four O-Clock; always the longest wait. So we went for lunch at the Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria, lunch was not good (remember this is the second day all new employees a learning curve).  Not all the gift shops were open but a few were, to look around at. An hour stop at the visitors center then a rest on the second floor lobby overlook: a good place to rest and watch people and visit, but O.C.D. can’t rest until we have our room. After checking three or four times at Three-Ten we got our keys and unloaded my truck, a two times trek to my truck to get all our luggage.

My wife kept checking her phone to try and figure when and if we could see the Northern Lights tonight. Petty unclear, looks like between 10:30 and Midnight and better chance tomorrow night. So with no real plan for tonight we went to sleep and would make plans for tomorrow. I as usual fell to sleep early and woke around 10:10 P.M. no bathroom in the room I got dressed and after going to the toilet I went down stairs (our rooms on the third floor) out the main door. I went just north of Old Faithful over the north mountains I could see the Northern Lights; I went right up the stairs and woke my wife. We went down the stairs and back outside my wife started to take pics of the Northern Lights. After about an hour the lights began to wane and then just went away. So we went back to bed. We made big plans for the next night went out at 10:25 waited about an hour no lights, so we went back to bed. The next day someone said the Northern Lights showed up around 12:30 only lasted ten minutes and not very good only a low dull Green.      

Deer Creek

 

Fishing in my teen years, I often was found on the banks of the Deer Creek The trek from my house to Deer Creek was about thirty mile from my house, drove my white with some rust spots 1960 T-Bird I traded for some work roofing a patio.  The lake was above Provo Canyon. We fished a mile or so from the dam. I did a lot of fishing when I was in my twenties twelve and thirteen, I would go fishing by myself or who was around not doing anything.

One person I went fishing with a lot was my friend Shane; sadly he is no longer with us, lost his fight with cancer maybe fishing in the wispy clouds that float past overhead.

A fishing trip I dreamt about the other night. It was a cool spring morning, sun rising over the Wasatch Mountains with a metal mug full of hot cocoa. We had been fishing nearly an hour with no luck. Shane was getting bored and ready to go home; just then some kid was selling worms after a fifteen minuet conversation with her she convince me to buy a dozen worms for a Quarter. This is usual a great fishing spot, telling Shane I was going to switch bate the worms I just bought; we can try that for a good half and if no luck we could leave. He was not sold on changing bate, but would stay a half hour.  After switching bate around ten minutes, I was wheeling in a huge Bluegill Perch, guess what Shane came over and borrowed some worms. We were catching Perch as fast as we could rebait get cast lines into the lake; the downside we shortly ran out of worms. At the same time we said let’s find that girl! Shane went one way around the lake, I went the other. What seemed like hours we met back in twenty minutes we could not find her; or anyone who would sell us worms. Time to trek back home we through the fish back s we caught them so trying to figure out who caught the most fish [and how many. Well that was up to the biggest liar Shane caught forty five I caught twenty two; we can see who the biggest liar is. Never mind all that we did agree next time we would bring worms, and get the worm-girl’s phone number.

Curiosity Always Gets the Cat in Trouble

 

On a break from work late September, 1978 or maybe it was 1979.  I woke up with a big bang; (it was kids with a fire cracker) the full moon shining through my bedroom window was so bright.  I could read the time on my watch without turning on the light, 4:45. Not wanting to stay in my room or wake my wife (curiosity always gets the cat in trouble and will always be remembered) I grab my Jacket, slowly creep down two flights of stairs to the Lobby.

I stop at the old green copper-fountain for a sip of water. I made my way Past the Rocking Chair in front of the picture window over-looking Delicate Arch. The Rock Fireplace that was going, making the wood on wood floor an eerie crackling sound. A momentary stop to warm my hands, fire was almost out with only glowing red coals flickering and cracking ;( This time of year it’s always cool in the morning.) A smile comes across my face as someone opens the front door, and a crow flies in.

Nowhere open yet I can’t get any Coffee or Tea.  Walking Past the Red Cliff Pub (where I was drinking beer, playing cards with my wife until they closed last night). I could see a skiff of snow on the walkway, as I pass the window. Pulling the hat from my Jacket I snug it on my head.

Leaving from the old copper-covered front door; Delicate Arch over-look was a left turn and a couple hundred yards away. With no idea what time the sun rise today I walk towards the over-look knowing what a view it will be as the sun rises. The moon just set (so dark) I needed to hold on to the guide chain to keep from falling off the cliff; I will wait here until the sunshine’s enough that I can see the trail. (Falling off the cliff could really ruin my day). After Ten minuets’ or so I can see well enough to go to the over-look after a few clicks of my camera.

The Pre-dawn cold just hit me,   I am going back to the lodge, see if I can get a mug of coffee, and see if my wife is awake and there waiting for me.    

 

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