At Tonto Pass: This is a Good Day

The creamsicle sun is setting west of Tonto Pass.
The transpired events of the day roll through our mind like a silent movie while the wind rushes through the windows, past our faces to comb our hair furiously.
What part do I like best?
Is it the cold water rushing against my toes and then to my ankles
or the pebbles caught beneath my feet?
Maybe it’s the moss rushing downstream entangling my ankles;
it’s slimy feel shrugs my shoulders every time.
Could it be that I like your face when you climb over the rocks; accomplishment never looked so good.
Or is it that I can’t find you; my eyes scan the river bank to catch you upstream looking into the river bed exclaiming, “Fishies! A whole bunch!”
Possibly it is when you step into the water never minding the rush its cold chill sends over your entire body.
I like it too when I see you walk in the river and your footing is not so sure and “plop” you fall down, hands meeting the river bed first and water splashes your face and curls.
You never sway or turn around but persist to stand in the river as your body acclimates to its temp.
I see you standing on the bank timid to approach the water so you collect various rocks to take home; a prize for the day.
And then you scour the river bed looking for shells picking them up one by one tossing them in the orange sand bucket. “I’ll take this home” you say.
The tent is erect and we all climb in to experience something new. “Take off your shoes. No sand inside.”
Our privacy is interrupted by the stampede of wild stags halting at the river’s edge to drink some of this fine water. A young punk decides to throw rocks at the closest horse but the horse ignores the call to fear and drinks without reservation.
His white body majestically hovers at the edge and others of the same magnitude join for a cool drink and before we can snap a shot, they’re gone again into the dessert.
Evening is but a moment away.
We gather our buckets, our sandy shoes, tent, and walk up the embankment feeling pleasantly aware of nature and her glory beholds our eyes in one last glance. The sun is setting west of us with one last kiss upon our cheeks; she goes down for the night.
This is a good day.