Last week one of my Young Walkers committed suicide. It is always hard to hear news like this when you see them so happy on the trail and have such high hopes for them when they return home. I am sad for her family and hope they are hanging in there. I am proud to be a part of a program that cares so much for the families, that some of our past TWs went to the funeral and our founder called the family to send them our love and concern.

Deep thinker almost forgotten

In sorting more of my stuff in the garage yesterday, I discovered some of my writing from when I was in middle school. As I read it, I was surprised by how much of a deep thinker I was and where that writing ability went too. I thought I would put some of them up here.

The Waiting
For nature, it is a time of waiting.
Waiting to see what man will do
with his freedom of choice.
Waiting to see if he will choose wisely.

Mother to Mother
From universe, to star, to planet, to Earth's children
love-manifest radiates its infinite light
mother to mother.

Ancient Wisdom
With a whisper,
Our ancestors left their mark upon the land.
That same land today
Now shudders in the wake of humanity's deafening roar.

The Source
Humankind's deepest misunderstanding is separating God from his creation. When God is seen in all things, as the Native Americans saw God, there exists harmony, balance and a love and respect for all life. When we abuse the Earth, we spit in God's face.

The Mist
The mist is between the sky and the forest.
The soft mist is drifting.
     I am sad the mist is drifting.
     I wonder if the forest and sky are sad.
I wonder if,
I wonder why,
     I wonder if the moment is drifting
     Because I am sad.

Golden Sunrise
Rays of light broke through the morning mist
As the golden sun rose from behind the dark mountains
To shine on the green valley.
There it was in that flourescent dawn
That all other colors faded in comparison to the sunrise.
In that instant the fog lifted from my mind
And I had true wisdom.
I realized where I had come from.
I now knew my true self
As the civilized shadow shed from me.
I then understood the heart of hateful men
And I could never return to that dark grey world.

I am loving owning a house. In the past year I have learned how to do so many odd things and its been fun mixed with a bit of hard work. Besides the usual room painting, I have repaired all the control valves and heads in the sprinkler system and converted the front yard portion into a drip system. I have repaired the gel coat breaks in my shower, replaced the silicon seal around my shower door and put in a new bathroom fan. I tore out a hideous fountain nicknamed Jabba the Hut and planted an orange tree in its place. That was the most work requiring a sledge hammer and a jackhammer (I loved using that). I had a mesquite tree planted in the front yard and tore out three dead palms. This fall I am going to put in a lawn in the backyard.

I'm sure in 20 years I won't be saying these things are fun but for now its great.

Reminder

Being in the wilderness every other week has some drawbacks. Not just the obvious ones that everyone usually thinks of. I have spent over 2 1/2 years of my life in the deserts of Arizona and with that comes a certain amount of familiarity. Some of the awe I used to get about being in the wilderness has faded with all that time. One thing I love about seeing the new YWs who come out to the trail is there first glimpse of the night sky. Arizona is one of the best places in the country to see the stars because of the dry, still air. Many of the YWs come from cities and have not had the opportunity to really see the beauty above them. Seeing their reaction to that first night reminds me of the beauty thats out there.

Seeing the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon puts many things into perspective. It gets me to ponder everything from my place in this world to how grand the universe trully is. It stretches my mind and imagination as I try to comprehend these great ideas. How grateful I am to those YWs for the reminder and for the opportunity I get to see that night sky so frequently.

Another finished project

Two years ago I was wandering around the barter circle at Wintercount when I came across someone selling door mats made out of climbing ropes. I fell in love with them but at the time I didn't have enough money to buy one. Yesterday I finished one of my own. An employee at a local climbing gym was kind enough to give me the ropes for free. I found directions online (thank goodness for the internet). Even with that it was still a very confusing project. Its not like normal weaving because you create the under-over knot as you go. I had to rip the first braid out three times because I kept finding mistakes. At one point I was so frustrated I almost threw the whole thing out a window (I'm glad I exercised a little self-control). Once the first braid was correct, the second and third were easy because you just follow the first exactly. It ended up being 18 in x 30in.
It is surprisingly soft on my feet and even when its directly in the sun, the rope doesn't get hot. If I can get my hands on more ropes, I think I will make a few more of these for my other doors. Oh no, I've found another hobby.

I love water

I love the water. I think it has to do with growing up in a desert. There is so much lack of it that when you see it, you really appreciate it. Growing up near Lake Tahoe also didn't hurt; although, I think it made me a bit of a water snob when it comes to drinking and swimming.Thankfully there are some amazing water holes in Arizona. 



 This is the stunning Fossil Creek in Arizona. I got to drive past it last week while on the Trail. I saw it for the first time last summer and fell in love with it. I still cannot get over the color of the water. I've been told its because its a travertine spring, whatever that means.

   


 Thought I should get a pic of myself enjoying the beautiful day along the creek.


 



While taking the previous shot, I got the idea to get a pic of myslef jumping into said creek. I had to set the timer then run around to the jump spot. It took me five tries to get this shot. Oh darn that I had to jump so many times into such a beautiful creek.


This pic was taken last saturday in my friend's pool. We were trying out her new underwater camera.



 

trying to do something special

This october I will be turning 30. I want to do something special for it. A TW gave me the idea of doing thirty things before I turn 30. I am having trouble thinking up ideas. Anyone have any suggestions?