So ready for less motion.
2
Electric Current, Resistance, and Ohm's Law
*Mona*
My parents’ McMansion was built into the side of a mountain. Reaching the property during winter required the traveler to have a certain degree of flexible ambivalence for their own safety. I’d explained the situation to Allyn months ago, perhaps even exaggerating the danger, just to be sure she was fully informed prior to giving her consent. She’d readily agreed.
As soon as my plane touched down, I powered up my cell to message Allyn. The screen told me that my brother had called and left a voicemail while I’d been airborne. Making a mental note to check his message later, I sent Allyn a text, letting her know I’d finally arrived.
The plane had been delayed leaving LAX by an hour and a half, therefore our flights arrived within a half hour of each other instead of mine landing first. After grabbing my carry-ons, darting off the plane and through the gate area to baggage claim, I discovered Melvin—one half of the caretaker team for the Aspen property—had already found Allyn and her bags.
As soon as she spotted me, Allyn—as usual—didn’t say hi. She began talking as though we were in the middle of a conversation. “I was hoping to get a good view of the mountains as we touched down, but it was too cloudy and dark. I didn’t get to see anything.”
Pulling me into an embrace once I was within arm’s reach, she didn’t seem to notice how I tensed. Allyn never did notice my reticence about being touched, but that was fine. I’d been working on my “touching issues” for a while now and I appreciated her ignorance of my struggles. I didn’t want anyone walking on eggshells or making it into their problem.
“You couldn’t see the mountains because of the snow,” Melvin said, stepping forward to reach for my bag. “This is it? Did you check anything?”
I shook my head, lifting my shoulder to indicate that I’d be fine carrying my backpack. “Just the two carry-ons.”
“Good. Let’s go.” He turned and began power-walking to the exit.
It took me a second to react to his swift departure. I’d expected to hear all the local news, as Melvin was typically the chatty sort. He and his daughter Lila were Aspen natives. He seemed to think of the place as a small hamlet rather than the opulent resort town it had become. The last time I’d visited—just two months ago—he’d told me all about the latest issues with sanitation management and how the mayor’s son had been escorted out of Big Ben’s Bear Shack after dancing on the bar.
But instead of chatting, Melvin—now ten feet away—twisted his head to see if we were following, and then waved us forward urgently. Following his lead, we were wordlessly and hurriedly ushered out of the airport and into the waiting car.
Once we were packed in, on the road and on our way, I lowered the glass separating Allyn and I from Melvin.
“Can we stop at the store?” I’d been assured via email by Lila—Melvin’s daughter, the other half of the caretaker team all year round, and the chef when my parents were present—that the house had been appropriately stocked for our arrival. Even so, I’d wanted to make a stop in downtown Aspen to pick up a few supplies.
Melvin clicked his tongue, not sparing me a glance in the rearview mirror. “We can, but the forecast has another two feet by midnight. If we stop now, there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to access 82 at all, or reach the house for the next several days. It’s a good thing you girls arrived when you did. Lila’s been fretting all week. If your plane had been further delayed, you might’ve been staying the week at one of the lodges instead.”
“Does that mean we won’t be able to leave once we get there?” Allyn addressed this question equally to both me and Melvin.
“Forecast has snow slowing by week’s end, and they plow on Fridays. You should be fine to fly out, assuming the forecast is on target.”
“But we can’t leave for the whole week?” She didn’t sound upset or worried, merely curious.