Hard work and play - are often the same thing

One of the first things I have learned here in Arizona, is that when country folk work they are actually playing and vice versa.  Yeah, so you are thinking: "Ok, cowboys love their work. I can see that. But, no! Playing can never be work".  Well, I beg to differ and say that it is true!

Let me give you just one example!

Yesterday a family invited us Icelanders for an afternoon at the "Cracks".

A crack in the middle of the road

A hidden gem of red and cream colored rocks in the middle of nowhere.  Really! Driving there the landscape looked flat and bare, with nothing but sagebrush.  It had been raining for two days, which is unusual for this area. Well, country folk don't let a little rain stop the fun. So off we went anyways.

We got there and it was just beautiful.

Northern Arizona

Us Icelanders had never been there before and therefore we tried to take in every scene, smell and feeling.  Not minding the light drizzle of rain (which we Icelanders are used to) we hiked around and admired the great landscape. 

We tried to light a fire to cook our foil dinners.  Which is something an Icelander has to learn to do 

(that is, light a fire and cook foil dinners).

But the fire did not stand the drizzle that had now turned into a down poor.  And neither did the rest of us.  Well to be honest, everyone seemed happy except the women that had to cook with no fire.  But the decision was made to head home and eat there.  So far this whole story sounds just like fun to you. Right?  Well it was on our way home that play and work intermingled.

For it was while we were on our way back home before dark, that one of the trucks got stuck in the dirt, that now had turned into this spectacular compound of mud. 

Heavy and thick, it devoured all four tires.

And so the work/play began.  I could see in the faces of my country friends a mixture of: excitement, worry and determination.  With one shovel, a flashlight (which I mastered quite well) and sagebrush, we (or they, to be honest, because I'm still learning) spent the next hour freeing the heavy truck.

Was it hard?  Yes!
 Was it cold?  Yes!
Did it fulfill our need for play? Oh, Yes!

When back home in dry pajamas, my thoughts kept wandering back to that eventful afternoon. I made up my mind that this would be my first blog.

Remember that work is not just necessary, but if you decide, it can also be fun.  Love your day filled with projects, assignments, duties or whatever you want to call it.  Love that you are capable. Love that feeling of accomplishment.  And last but not least - Love to play!