The Spot
Michaela liked adventures. We would chase storms so she could get lightening photographs, get up at 3am so we could travel a couple hours to see the sun rise over a waterfall, take a different route over mountains than the usual way just to see more of our beautiful state, turn on to a dirt road just to see where it went, and countless other adventures.
One dirt road adventure came about because she wanted a place that didn’t have light pollution so she could take photos of the night sky. She found the perfect spot. We went there often to watch the sunset, stargaze, fly a kite or the drone, play with the cameras, or just unplug, sit and talk. We nicknamed it “the spot.” M would say “hey do you want to go to the spot to…” fill in the blank. Whatever the reason, I would always say yes. It now holds so many memories.
When she was going to start her business, we went out there to just sit and discuss the pros and cons. When she decided to go for it, we went there to do photos for her website. When she got the drone for her business, we went there to practice flying. When she got a new lens for the camera, that was the first place she wanted to go and play with it. When I needed a place to cry and scream at the world because my uncle died, that is where M brought me and held on to me as I let out all those emotions. When we wanted to unplug and just be, it was perfect place to watch the sun go down as we held hands in the quiet stillness. We had sexy make out sessions there too like teenagers on a first date. We sang and danced in the glow of twilight out among the tumbleweeds. So many memories.
When she died, the directions to the spot died with her. I have wanted to go there many times since she died and tried to find it, but couldn’t. Our old vehicle had it pinned as a favorite location on the GPS. Not the current vehicle though. Now there was an obvious solution if you are tech savvy or even tech aware. However, with grief comes brain fog and that solution didn’t come to me until today neared.
I had been thinking I wanted to go to the spot for the anniversary of her death and it was upsetting me that I might never find it again. I don’t know why the tech angle finally worked its way to the surface of my brain, but I am so thankful it did.
We took a ton of photos at the spot. Most of them done with our iPhones with meta data such as location on it. The other night I remembered this and tracked down photos with the location attached to it. Looking at it on the map, I think we will be able to find it even if it is off a little bit. Wendy and I are going to go out to the spot this evening to spread some of Michaela’s ashes, and spend time with her as I have no doubt she will be there. We are going to watch the sunset and have a car picnic as M and I did often.
If M was here, we would have been out there right now at 5am or just before sunrise so we could see all the planets aligned. She geeked out on that kind of stuff. Cameras and telescope would have been packed into the car along with coffee in travel mugs. The spot would be the perfect place to see it. However, I want to be there for sunset so we will try to find some of the planets as they set for the day.
I am looking forward to going the spot to celebrate and honor her, I know I will still look out at that setting sun and say “you should still be here.” I think it everyday. Many times a day and know I will this evening as I can’t believe it has been 2 years without her.
Photo from 2016 at The Spot.
