Consider Writing

In the first week of June 2012, Yellowstone rewarded us with clean air, bison, geysers, hot springs, endless vistas, and best of all, open roads. Since we couldn’t talk to the animals, the rangers, guides, and staff filled our knowledge cup. Their stories sent my sister dreaming about how she might have a pet bison and escape a Tucson summer. Not interested in mosquito bites or being polite in 6-hour shifts, I nixed the room for two. I would be bored after a few hikes and bike rides, and no WiFi! If a bear chased me, how fast could I run?

At the Grant Village Visitor Center I saw “Louisville” stamped on an employee’s badge. Louisville – Cousin Joe owns King’s Shoe Repair in Louisville.  John lifted his right foot and began talking about his loafers.

-See these shoes? They’re ten years old, and I love them. . . always take them to King’s for new heels and soles.  John and his wife work the summer circuit, live in their RV, and make happy talk with visitors.

Chris met Daisy from Mesa, AZ working a cash register. Daisy has a cool $25 a week room with  shared bath. She pays aThe first week of June Yellowstone rewarded us with clean air, bison, geysers, hot springs, endless vistas, and best of all, open roads. Since we couldn’t talk to the animals, the rangers, guides, and staff filled our knowledge cup. Their stories sent my sister dreaming about how she might have a pet bison and escape a Tucson summer. Not interested in mosquitos bites or being polite in 6-hour shifts, I nixed the room for two. I would be bored after a few hikes and bike rides, and no WiFi! If a bear chased me, how fast could I run?

At the Grant Village Visitor Center I saw “Louisville” stamped on an employee’s badge. Louisville – Cousin Joe owns King’s Shoe Repair in Louisville.  John lifted his right foot and began talking about his loafers.

-See these shoes? They’re ten years old, and I love them. . . always take them to King’s for new heels and soles.  John and his wife work the summer circuit, live in their RV, and make happy talk with visitors.

Chris met Daisy from Mesa, AZ working a cash register. Daisy has a cool $25 a week room with  shared bath. About $50/ week for 3-meals a day in the employee’s cafeteria. A ride to Bozeman, five dollars. Escaping Arizona politics until late September would save any normal person a cranial stress fracture.

The first night, Nick from Atlanta took care of our dinner at the Old Faithful Inn. A broadcasting and creative writing major, he wants a career in comedy. Nick’s goal: Write for Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, or SNL. When he sent Zanterra his job application, he included a photo. Good looking, beautiful eyes – who would refuse?

We drove to Lake Yellowstone Hotel (built 1889-1891) for a lunch. Poor Kevin, the season had just begun, and he mets us on a rather quiet day. Richard orders a salmon wrap with french fries. Chris bites a fry and says, these are cold! Would you bring us some hot fries? We don’t see Kevin for a while. I tasted the wrap – dry salmon right out of a can mixed with white rice, corn, green pepper bits, and fresh spinach. (If only I had my Waterpik!) Let’s get everything out of the wrap and on to the plate. Richard folded the giant tortilla in a triangle and wrote Help in ketsup. Kevin brought the hot fries.

Richard – I suggest you tell the chef to add lemon juice, maybe some mayo, to give the salmon some moisture. The wrap is really dry.

Kevin – That’s a good idea.

Chris works at a resort hotel and knows about temperamental chefs. She laughs at the idea of Kevin giving the chef a suggestion.

– He just started his job. He’s not going to tell the chef anything.  Not if he wants to work at the Yellowstone Hotel through the summer. The chef will say,”Get the f*** out of my kitchen before I break your legs.”

Memo to Chef – Google a recipe for tzatziki. The veggie pita promises tzatziki and doesn’t deliver.  I’m far from Yellowstone, and you can’t break my legs.

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