Cathy's Lama Dave
By: Catherine Tapia

Wyoming was so gorgeous with the hot sun frying and drying out my hair to the color of hay.  The large supply of Charles of the Ritz lip balm was helping me through the summer.  I was helping on the surveyor's line walking through it all and enjoying it all---Hidden Lake---Wind River Reservation---such a young free spirit to be outside everyday watching wild horses run and the mountain goat and buffalo roam the land.  This was life out of a story book that made me feel beautiful.  And to think a girl from Michigan can do all of this.

This was the oil boom of the 1980s; lots of work and lots of hours.  Living out of a suitcase suited me fine for the time being---when I was tired of it I would quit.  The weather was turning to winter---freezing and cold and snowing.  The airport at Jackson Hole was filling up.  Another crew guy was there from Rocky Mountain Helicopters. He had just returned from Alaska.  I saw him in the airport and then he was gone.  I walked around alone (by now very tired of that -- being in my early 20s and wanting his attention.)  Making my way to the bar I saw him again.  I sat  next to him saying, "Oh there you are.  I was looking for you."  After conversation and good vibes I told him I was going to marry him but only if he wanted me.

Thank you for the very natural and fun years of my life that included you in it.