Day 5
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Colorado Springs, Colorado
I awoke at the crack of dawn, the familiar mixture of exhaustion and excitement settling into my bones. The week had already been emotionally heavy, filled with farewells, final preparations, and the slow unwinding of a life I had carefully built in Colorado. Yet there was still work to be done. Responsibilities remained, and I intended to finish them properly.
I stepped outside into the cool Colorado morning and made my way to my faithful vehicle, the “Isis Adventure Thru Time” vardo.
She was no ordinary car. She was a hippy van, a Volkswagen Vanwagon that had already become part of my personal mythology. I had acquired her from my friend Kyndra at Breitenbush Hot Springs after my beloved Matrix had died during a road trip to Faerieworlds the previous year. That journey had already been one of transformation, and the van seemed to carry that energy forward.
The name “Isis Adventure Thru Time” felt fitting. The van was more than transportation. She was a vessel of transition, a moving sanctuary between worlds.
That morning, I drove from Old Colorado City to Fort Carson, grateful that she was running smoothly. The drive felt symbolic, another quiet crossing between past and future. Each mile carried me closer to departure.
The day itself stretched long.
Another thirteen-hour day in the lab.
The curation facility hummed with quiet activity as I wrapped up remaining projects. Maps were finalized. Sites documented. Files organized. There was a rhythm to it all, the careful closing of responsibilities. I wanted to leave things in order, to ensure continuity for those who would continue the work.
The hours passed quickly, though fatigue slowly crept in. By late afternoon, the realization set in that this would be one of my final long days in the lab. The thought carried both satisfaction and nostalgia.
When evening finally arrived, I transitioned from archaeologist to traveler.
I changed into my gothy finest.
The night ahead was not just another outing. It was a farewell.
I headed to the Zodiac Lounge, formerly known as the Rocket Room, which was hosting a new Goth night. It felt fitting to attend. The Gothic community had been part of my life in Colorado Springs, and this would be one last gathering before I embarked on my journey Down Under.
Unfortunately, Allison was unable to attend due to work obligations. I felt her absence, but I understood. Life rarely aligns perfectly with farewell moments.
At around 8 pm, I left work and headed to the bar.
When I arrived, the place was quiet. Only two others sat scattered among the dimly lit tables. The soft glow of candlelight, dark décor, and faint music created a calm, almost anticipatory atmosphere.
Soon enough, my good friend Lady Jenni arrived.
We had most recently crossed paths in the Emerald City, and it felt good to reconnect. Drinks were ordered. Stories shared. We caught up on life, laughter filling the dim space. The warmth of friendship eased the weight of departure.
As the evening progressed, more friends began to arrive.
Lady Sarah, the Earth Guardian, joined us, bringing her grounded and calming presence. Then came Lady Nanette, Sir Chris, and Lady Sheila of the Palmer Clan. Their arrival transformed the quiet lounge into a gathering of familiar faces and shared histories.
Mistress Satori joined soon after, along with a handful of others who drifted in throughout the evening. The energy grew. Conversations overlapped. Glasses clinked. Music filled the room.
It became a proper farewell.
There was laughter. There were toasts. There were quiet moments of reflection. Each friend represented a chapter of my Colorado life, and seeing them gathered together felt meaningful. These were not just acquaintances. These were fellow travelers along the winding road that had brought me here.
The Gothic aesthetic of the night seemed fitting. Dark velvet, candlelight, silver jewelry, and black lace created an atmosphere that felt both ceremonial and celebratory. It was less a goodbye and more a rite of passage.
The hours passed quickly.
By midnight, fatigue returned.
The week had been long. The days ahead would begin early. Though the celebration could have continued, I knew it was time.
As the clock struck midnight, I offered final farewells, hugs, and promises to reconnect in the future. Then I stepped out into the cool Colorado night.
The air felt still.
I drove home quietly, reflecting on the evening. Another circle closing. Another chapter nearing its end.
Soon, I would be leaving Colorado.
Soon, I would be boarding planes.
Soon, I would be crossing oceans.
But for now, there was sleep.
The dawn would come quickly.
And the adventure would continue.
[ Day 4: 4/04/11: Joan of Arc ] [ Home ] [ Day 6: 04/06/11: Ponderings ]
Sir Thomas Leif Sails South [ version 1 ] [ version 2 ]
a Viking / Pirate departure for Sir Thomas Leif as he bids farewell to family and friends, Absinthe Alli and Astranna as he heads Down Under to sail the HMB Endeavour …. Days 2-7, April 2-, 2011. https://technotink.net/chronicles/04-02-11-quiet-between-worlds/ By Rowan ai | Thomas Rhymer | Techno Tink Media | Suno ai.
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Steel-gray dawn on Academy
Boxes stacked like sentry lines
Snow-dust ghosts on Carson’s fences
Breath of frost
Farewell signs
He folds his worn-out camo jacket
Traces sand in every seam
Leaves his boots by the back-door step Like a shed-off skin
Old dream
[Chorus]
Raise the black wing
Sir Thomas Leif
From Colorado’s bones to the boiling reef
From Pike’s white crown to the roaring thunder
You sail
Down Under on the edge of wonder
Oh The wind will carve your name in foam
But your heart stays home
With Absinthe Alli and Astranna’s laughter
In every wave you’ll chase them after
[Verse 2]
Alli pours the bitter-green glass
“Just a taste ” she says “for the road”
Emerald flame in a kitchen tumbler
Tiny altar to the unknown
Astranna draws a crooked tall ship
Stars and kangaroos in the sky
“Bring this back when you’re a pirate Tom”
He tucks it close
Tries not to cry
[Chorus]
Raise the black wing
Sir Thomas Leif
From Colorado’s bones to the boiling reef
From Pike’s white crown to the roaring thunder
You sail Down Under on the edge of wonder
Oh The wind will carve your name in foam
But your heart stays home
With Absinthe Alli and Astranna’s laughter
In every wave you’ll chase them after
[Bridge]
[Drums build Low chant under lead vocal]
Salt in your blood
Frost in your past
Mountain man
Seafaring at last
Pagan prayers in a southern star
Old gods listen from afar
On the HMB
Ghost of Cook
You grip the rail
The sky unhooked
Every swell
You hear her say
“Come back someday
Come back someday”
[Chorus]
Raise the black wing
Sir Thomas Leif
From Colorado’s bones to the boiling reef
From Pike’s white crown to the roaring thunder
You sail Down Under
on the edge of wonder
Oh The wind will carve your name in foam
But your heart stays home
With Absinthe Alli and Astranna’s laughter
In every wave you’ll chase them after
[Outro]
[Instruments fade Almost a capella]
So drink the storm and sing the deep
Let the southern shadows keep
But when the mast cuts through the moon
Think of them
You’re coming soon
Down Under Day 2 to 7: April 2-7, 2011: Sir Thomas Leif prepares for his journey down under to Australia. Farewells to friends and family. https://technotink.net/chronicles/04-02-11-quiet-between-worlds/ Tribal/Pirate/Viking music video by Rowan ai | Suno ai | ChatGPT | Grok | Techno Tink Media | Oisin Rhymour | Tom Baurley.