October Nov 1, 2008
Moab, Utah

Man… what a journey this is. Liz and I just spent a blissful five days back in Moab talking and coming back together after a tumultuous few weeks apart. It was good to see her and spend time with her again. Things have changed between us for the better, there’s a different look in her eye as I’m sure there is also in mine. Our individual machinations have served as good medicine for each other and now I think the transmutation has taken place. The poisonous aspects that existed within us have given way to new perspectives and new echelons of personal growth. It’s nice to feel awake again and feel as though we’ve reached a new plateau to explore together.

Liz Left on Monday and I was geared up and ready to get moving again, only to come to a complete stop.

First Monday night, settling back into my solitude, I took Moses for a walk at 10pm. We entered Mill Creek Trail and he immediately tore off into the woods after a cat. I call him back only to hear a yelp and minute later to see him heading back towards me through the darkness, tail between legs. And what’s that?… Something chasing him… a SKUNK!!! He nears me as I am backing away and I am hit by the smell. The skunk chasing him has turned it’s backside for a second assault on us both, but he’s out of range, thank god. But he’s already won and I am left in the dark with a skunkdog.

This is the second time in a week and a half that Moses has been sprayed. As before I drag him down into the river with a bottle of camp soap and scrub him down. This cleans him up somewhat for the van but mostly just transfers the musk oils onto me. He hops reeking into the van and I suck it up as I drive to the local gas station where I know there’s a hose.

I know from last week’s attempted cleaning that tomato juice doesn’t do a thing. So this week I avoid that step and go straight to Dawn liquid dish soap. I use half a bottle and when he shakes his black fur transforms into a white cloud of foam, but it seems to cut the oils. Afterwards I dry him and then spray him down with vanilla glade air freshener… he is not amused… but I don’t really care.

We finally settle into our vanilla scented sleep spot around midnight… my new solitude is not going so well… I miss Liz.

The next day I awake to an overwhelmingly itchy body. I scratch and scratch before it dawns on me like that liquid soap dawned on Moses. It seems my wonder-pooch did not only find a skunk last night but also found a plentiful patch of poison ivy.

Over the next few days the rash spreads forcing me to leave the van for a clean hotel room with shower. I fork over the cash only to isolate myself, watch movies while laying covered in calamine lotion. The world outside moves on and my ambition and desire to roll has long since vanished in the wake of an itch that feels like a Chinese torture device has me in it’s grip.

After two days I’ve lost it and head to the only thing open on weekends; the local hospital emergency room. I enquire as to the cost of seeing a doctor, although at this point anything seems reasonable. I go ahead see a doctor who prescribes me steroid cream and optional steroid pills to kick the itch that now covers a vast proportion of my body.

I rent more movies, spend two more days in a cheap motel and finally start to feel better. Today I awoke, checked out, cleaned the van, washed all my blankets and clothes in case of residual contamination, and now I’m finally getting back to work. I’ve shipped some film stock home, cleaned and organized, walked the dog and am finally blogging with a new heart and a new skin.

A few weeks ago when I was going through the transition back to Liz, I was walking the dog when a big yellow snake crossed my path. Snake represents transmutation of poison into medicine, life transition and shedding the old skin in favor of the new. I guess the peeling rash that adorns me is simply a part of that process.

peace,
d