Friday, November 18, 2011

Day 10: Nature

When I was younger my dad took me camping every summer.  We would load up the packs with food, tent, sleeping bags, water filter and step out of the front door to walk ourselves down the street.  When we got to the main drag that led up to the mountains we'd stick out a thumb and look friendly.  It usually took a bit of waiting and walking but eventually we'd make it up to our trail head.  Once a mom in a van with her kids took us up.

Then we'd hike.  It was only about 5 miles but it felt like an eternity to me.  Our stay was usually a few days and we'd set up camp by a little lake, using it for water.

I think these trips instilled a love of being outdoors.  It's practically trance inducing to hear the wind moving through the tops of pine trees and to smell the sweet air of sugar pines.  I love it.  There is a different kind of quiet there too.

A few days ago I was sitting in the middle of nowhere next to a pond reading my book and feeling the sun soak into my sweatshirt.  It felt like I was being recharged, loved by the wonderful attributes of the planet.

Needless to say, I am quite in love with nature.  Intrigued, fascinated and in awe of how it all works together so perfectly.




1 comment:

  1. Most of the best memories I have with Dad, involves times we were out camping. Standing with him on the rim of the Grand Canyon and seeing tears in his eyes...hiking to Bumpass Hell at Lassen and pausing by a hillside vivid with the purple of blooming lupin flowers. Standing at the edge of the Pacific, inhaling the scent of water and meditating to the falling water from where the waterfall cascaded down to meet the Pacific.

    And the scent of frying bacon back in camp where Mom fixed breakfast!

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