June 15th - 08:30

Title: June 15th - 08:30 Medium: Super-8 film Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Resolution: 2880 x 2160 File Type: H.264 Codec / MP4. Comments: It was sunrise at White Sands National Park. A selenite landscape, where the trinity tests took place. Atomizing the sand in the middle of nowhere in the 1940's during the nuclear arms race. A military base born from destruction created a healing desert landscape. We drove in to the park the night we arrived minutes before sunset. Then the park closed and we had to leave. The gps was set to off-road only, no main highways. We were high on the coattail end of an acid trip as the day was fading into night. Smoke filled up the car slowly since the windows were up. Suddenly, we approached a few signs on a strange dark back road. There were no other cars around. Big red signs that said, "Active missile site." I brushed it off. I did not realize we were entering the military base. Then, I saw a sign that said "No Cannabis use." Then I started to get worried. We put out the blunt roach and opened the windows. Plumes of smoke poured out as we approached what look like a toll booth. It turned out to be the entrance to an active military base. There were agents at the gate that were surprised to see us, as surprised as we saw them. Sandy cat was on my lap, the car smelling like freshly roasted weed with traces of smoke still pillowing out, Ethan with a soft and glazing smile. Both of us praying for the best... In my mind I said to remain calm and just tell them the truth. We are lost. There was a main guard on the left who approached us confused and kindly. He must have been the staff sergeant. There were 4 other officers on our right side who listened to his command. On duty with their arms crossed, noses perked up sniffing, and gave us an intimidating glare. Ethan said, "I dont think we are supposed to be here." The officer agreed. I held up my phone to the sergeant who asked us for our section 3 clearance to enter the base. The directions on the map showed him that we were heading home and the gps brought us straight through their military base. He laughed at us and gave us a laundry list of directions back. I nodded profusely, and at the soonest moment I could I said our goodbye. Turned the whip around, and got the fuck out of there. My heart had sunk into anxiety as the acid was kicking in again... PHEW! We made it out of that mess. I drove home for another twenty minutes in disbelief. We tried to calm our nerves drinking tea and smoking gelato. It worked and went to bed. We woke up before sunrise to head over to the entrance gate of the National park. We were the first people to arrive at opening time. Continued to the end of the parking lot roadway and went to one of my favorite trails. It was a large open space you can run for miles and feel enveloped by the crystal sand dunes. It felt like a cartoon when running through. Leaving foot prints behind, seeing the wind gently blow the lines in the grain of the sand patterns. I let Sandy loose in White Sands. He was happy. He was free. I knew this was our final hoorah as he was growing old. Im grateful that we brought him on the 3 month road trip. He spent the whole time on my lap while driving 10,000 miles across the country. When do our pets become family? How does life connect one another; transcending the animal kingdoms and consciousness? There is a presence, a feeling of knowing; I would call it love.