Then & Now

Recently returned to the region known as Nʉmʉnʉʉ (Comancheria) in 1776, I wander around the land wondering what life was like then, and whether or not I'd have liked living here then.

In paintings it seems idealic, but having worked outside in the region through every season of the year, I doubt I'd have enjoyed the sweltering summer months much. With modern airconditioning humming along keeping it cool inside, it's not as horrific as it was in my youth. Stringing steel tubing across parched landscapes here for water delivery to rig sites taught me quickly that I did not want to spend my years working in it as a common laborer. As it is, I spent more than I expected to while slowly making my way through college courses.

After college, it's a cinch working outside whenever the task at hand calls for exposure to the elements before retreating into airconditioned shelter. I'm glad of having gained a few years working fulltime outside here, though. It's a tempering of character I still depend on today.