Jackson Hole Bardo

Tibetans call the transitional state of existence between two lives the “bardo” or “antarābhava”. For one week every November in Jackson Hole you can experience theirs. The town is a shuttered Void….a soulless realm…its consciousness has left one tourist season and prepares itself for the birth of another. And so the cycle of Samsara continues.

I can’t believe we’ve made it. As we barreled out of the Smoky Mountains into Tennessee like a couple of bootleggers, my dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. “Brake Malfunction: Stop car immediately!” I thought about it, ate a handful of trail mix and said fuck it….let’s blaze it to Denver. You don’t really need brakes when you’re flying straight across the Nashville Basin and into the Midwest Plains. It’s pretty fucking flat. But the Rockies….you might need some good ole ABS in the Rockies.

Tbh….none of that’s my biggest concern. I’m worried about baby girl above ☝🏼 Katana’s in heat. She’s been bleeding for about a week and it’s only getting worse, the blood and the hormones. And how are you supposed to stay at hotels like this. WELL….we are…and let me tell you….I will NEVER wish such an endeavor on anyone. Oh yeah, she’s also got a case of the shits. And pink eye. So basically whenever we arrive at a hotel room, I cover everything like a psychopath that’s about to dismember a poor unwitting victim. I digress.

By Topeka, sense got the best of me and I took the car in for a look-see. Also, I…..like the car….began to break down. Is this what raising kids is like?!? Jesus I’m not ready for kids. Btw….If you’re wondering what to do in Topeka…I too was curious and asked the bright faced lady at the dealership…..she said, “Get out of Topeka.” So there you have it.

We’ve arrived in Jackson and no one is here. It’s perfect. Hotels are half the rate. You can’t eat anywhere….just about every restaurant is closed this week….but Jackson Hole is overpriced anyway, so they’re actually saving me money. I’ve booked an extra night….home can wait. I’ve got a date tomorrow. I’m gonna show Katana the Tetons.