Only a few miles away from “The Oasis”, parked overnight in Marathon as needing to spend the day in Alpine for last minute errands, it is this morning a deluge of rain welcoming us, making me wonder if we will even make it through the dirt road awaiting, the last couple miles off the main highway. Could the roads have been packed well enough these past six months from all the past rains and lack of traffic or will we have to wait as a tease for another couple of days for the grounds to dry up? What an irony, specially since it I would say it never rains here at this time of the year. Will find out soon enough by the end of the day.

In the meantime, while in Lubbock, as last year I wanted to again visit the Windmill Museum. I never forget when I had heard about it the very first time thinking naively as to why I would want to go and see “a bunch of windmills”! My experience had always been the common ones resting on the side of the road, most of the time not even turning. And again, a couple days ago, I had much to see and much to read about the ingenuity of past settlers. Wind… the invisible force behind so much that goes on amongst us. Having lived on a sailboat for many years I could appreciate theoretically these “moving” sails producing the labor to raise water, produce electricity, grind corn and much more, without a complain achieve the many tasks seeked for that would need “power”.

The surprise of the day was taking place on the covered patio right next door as I did not remembered even stepping into that room last year. A Mural which was started in November of 2007 with a completion date due in the midst of next month, October 2009.  The Windmill Mural depicts the utilization of wind power in America from the 1700’s when Dutch style windmills were built along the East Coast to the present with wind turbines being erected across the United States.

This large art work covers the two interior walls of the Museum’s covered patio. These walls were specially prepared to accommodate the slight movement of the building in high winds. 290 precision cut 4-foot by 5-foot aluminum panels were fastened to the original corrugated steel walls, then primed giving a flat surface for painting. The artist then worked with the Museum’s Director to develop a comprehensive windmill story reflecting the relations of humans, the environment and technology in using the wind to help do work. The variety of windmills painted in the mural were selected from the museum’s large collection of historic windmills. I was told as when completed this will be the largest Mural in the World, over 5500 square feet, requiring both scissor and crane lifts to reach the 34 foot height . Five entry and service doors are blended in the painting with artistic ingenuity and skill.

I was taken back by this Mural. It was not it’s size but the attention of details, the renderings of the Artist, so much to see as a Movie unfolding, the History of Windmills throughout the years, all in such an Artistic fashion a camera could not even duplicate. From 20 feet away to a few inches able to then notice and take in all the details it was an amazing feast.

Fast forward. We are at “The Oasis”. Amazing… all is here so quiet, cannot describe this Space as I know I have tried many times and failed so miserably. Nothing has moved from when we left 5 months or so ago. The firewood has turned gray and tonight it will light up the skies, we might even have sunset worthy of standing up and applauding Mother Nature’s work… What am I taking about… Every Sunset is worthy of an applaud! Spirit is free, feels free as he took off like a speeding bullet as nowhere else these past months. The roads are now nicely packed from all the rain fallen, the vegetation has grown a bit and already with a little wagon we have gone to gather up some kindling for our first fire.

What happened to the windmills? Well, they are there and we are now here. The Sun is setting, not a Soul around besides the three of us, it is time to go and take it all in. Much to do is what’s coming up soon, but here, a timeless Space, all can wait as I do not see a clock or a calendar. Many thoughts I will only reminisce on for now, the moment calls me to be with my caring two partners now in Life.

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Thank you and be well…

Ara & Spirit