Norman Greenbaum

That's right, Norman Greenbaum.  He currently lives in Petaluma, CA on a dairy farm but in 1969 he released "Spirit in the Sky" which, IMHO is a timeless rock anthem.  However, if you've heard any of Norman's other songs, you know why he strums udders and not guitars....

On Friday I drove into the Sierra Nevada mountains on Highway 108 and just east of Mi-Wuk village I turned north onto a dirt road that some dozen or so miles later would lead me to a PG&E Powerhouse deep within the middle fork Stanislaus river canyon.  Shortly after the dissipation of the asphalt my satellite radio followed suit; I swapped audio sources and my iPod playlist kicked off with Greenbaum's classic.  It seemed fitting as I drove deeper into the national forest land and my thoughts drifted to my uncle Tim.  Friday was the two year anniversary of his death.  It's still a tough thing for me to contemplate, I cannot stop myself from mentally reliving what he dealt with alone, the morning of his death.  I spoke with him last at 8:47 am; the conversation was very short, just me checking on him.  After the phone call I went into a 9:00 am meeting that lasted several hours, what happened while I was in that meeting is unknown, but as it replayed repeatedly in my head while I drove, I felt I had a pretty good idea.

The north facing aspect of the river canyon was cold and wet, the road is steep and slippery, it switchbacks along a penstock that dives 2000' into the powerhouse far below.  The grade is so steep that when I pulled through an access gate and stopped to get out and close it; my truck, in park, parking brake engaged began a rapid slide down the road.  I yanked the truck into drive and settled into a flat spot further down the hill but the desolation and ominous mood of the day had me feeling vulnerable, we really have no control, fate is fate, when its your time.....it's just your time.  I proceeded to the powerhouse and took some measurements and made some drawings in a sunny spot near the river, it was 49 degrees out.  As I made the slow climb out of the canyon and back to the highway my playlist looped, Spirit in the Sky filled the cab of my truck once again just as I crested a ridge line to the sun facing southern slope.  I turned east and drove 3 miles to a local lake and stopped for a drink, the lake seemed deserted, I walked out onto the dock and sat at the end in the sun.  My feet broke the cold surface and dangled peacefully.  I thought about Tim for about 10 minutes until my drink was finished, it was a beautiful setting to remember someone whom I was so fond of.  Then I figured he'd frown on me for sitting down on the job and jumped in the truck and hurried down the mountain to civilization.  I miss you Tim.