Today started at 5:30 AM when I got up and turned on the stove to warm a cold burrito and started the coffeemaker. I fed the cats and dressed and then grabbed the burrito and a cup of the coffee and I turned off the kitchen stuff and then I was in my truck, heading north.

By 7:30, I was at the west East Fork Trailhead in the Jemez, a 6 mile trail I was curious about.

I followed a father and two of his kids to a descending trail that took us down to a turn of the Jemez River.

After checking it out, I climbed back up to the East Fork Trail – Trail 137- and continued east for another 2 miles, when my phone alarm went off at 9:40 and told me I needed to head back to my truck. I was just entering the more scenic leg of the trail, but it was time for me to head back.

I had to meet family friend Michelle Mora in Jemez Pueblo. The pot I had asked her to make was finished, and I had arranged to meet her this morning to fetch it.

In Jemez Springs, I slowed to look at a church by the road, and in the approaching traffic, lights on a black SUV went on.

I was pulled over for not having my seat belt on.

I hoped my clean driving record and the aura of Independence Day might sway the sheriff who stopped me to be lenient.

He was not.

But then again, it is the Jemez.

I got back to Jemez Pueblo and met Michelle on NM 4 by her home. She gave me the pot in an non-descript large brown bag, and with it, a white styrofoam plate and clear plastic fork and a flat rectangle of aluminum foil. It was one of her red cheese enchiladas. I opened it up once I was back in my truck, and folded the enchilada in half at the middle, and ate it from the foil like a sandwich.

What a treat.

By Bernalillo heading home, I had drank my several bottles of cold water, and I stopped at Taco Bell to get a large Pepsi. The kid at the window told me it was free, don’t worry about it. Wha? Here kid- here’s your tip. I gave him a twenty. Just felt like being gracious to him.

I got home and headed on over to play a game with my game group guys for the afternoon.

My stinker of a play somehow morphed into a win. I was surprised. It was a nice afternoon.

Afterwards, two of the guys and I looked at the rear right brake light on my truck. It has gone out on me twice in the last 6 months.

I picked up a new replacement build for it at Walmart.

Tonight, amidst the perpetual volleys of fireworks, I decided to watch one of my old favorites, Legends of the Fall, from 1994. It remains a hard movie for me to watch for some reason. Because of Alfred. Because of kinship and courtships. Because of strengths and weaknesses, because of victories and failures.

I love it anyways.

It is about 10 and I am halfway through the movie, and I will put it on hold and go to bed, so that bright and early I can pick up Grant and we can go fishing in the morning, hopefully, before the lake is overran with people.

Citation aside, it was a good day.

No need to buy fireworks.