Zarsian Adventures
“My dad started whistling. That was the first bad sign,” Cordelia Zars remembers. “Then walking around the cabin and straightening things. The second. When he tromped up the ladder, rummaged around in the loft, and hollered down at me, ‘Oh say, Cord…’? I knew it was over. Some ridiculous idea had sprouted in his brain; negotiation was futile, all hope of rationality lost.”
In this particular instance, the idea involved strapping on cross country skis and dragging a ninety pound keyboard ten miles through the snow on a nine degree Colorado evening.
Now, Cordelia reflects on how much these hair-brained excursions–postholes, shivers, sweat, tears and all–shaped the people her and her siblings became, and left them with a deep sense for what they’re capable of.
Find Cordelia’s music here.
Donate to our Bears Ears Education Center Kickstarter Campaign here!
Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain & Nis Kotto • The Channon by Josh Armistead • Decade of Upsets by Doctor Turtle • Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata performed by Cordelia Zars
Tracks provided by Free Music Archive and with permission from the artists.
This was SO good, thank you Cordelia. Easily one of my favorite’s of all time.
Thank you so much Dan!
This was terrific, Cord. I enjoyed it immensely, especially since I have been dragged along on a couple of Reed’s “adventures” during which, struggling to keep up, I was convinced that Reed would simply abandoned me and leave me to die. I’ve passed this podcast along to my daughters in the hope that, by comparison, they will now view me as much less of an outdoor nut than they currently do.
I loved this episode! Cordelia nails the storytelling (I am particularly fond of her laughing in the background at her family member’s jokes), and grants us a glimpse into what sounds like an incredibly awesome family… It is a lesson for all to bring out the best in the ones you care most about. Hoping for more adventures with Cordelia in 2018 and beyond.
Pingback: My favorite podcasts
This brought a smile to my heart and a laugh to my soul. Thank you!
One of the most memorable times of my life was having the good fortune to spend a day or so with some friends visiting Cordelia’s father, his siblings, grandmother and great grandparents in the winter of 1971 or thereabouts, spending time both at the ranch and the homestead. Her great grandfather Farrington Carpenter was one of the most fascinating men I have ever met. I recall walking in the front door of the ranch and thinking “this is not your ordinary cattle rancher”. His life was extraordinary and his memoir “Confessions of a Maverick” well worth reading if you can find a copy. Cordelia thanks for bringing back that memory.
Robert Richardson
Wonderful! Thank you Cord. I remember a visit in early 70’s to your great grand dad’s Ranch, and getting permission from your grandma to take Reed and his brother & sister XC skiing at Rabbit Ears’ Pass. Maybe their first time, not sure. Especially, though, I remember returning to dinner and happening to ask at the table if anyone had read Endurance. Your grandma took me up short and said, on the flinty side of curtly: Of course we have . . . that’s our Bible!!