From the time I was a little girl I loved Nature. I hung out with ants and watched them work and cried when they suffered. I listened to birds and I laid in the grass and watched the skies above. I was a tree hugger and an outdoors woman. I camped and fished and hiked and went on Outward Bound types of exploring (In our lives it was called Senior seminar.) I hiked 19 miles with a backpack and blisters on my feet. I brushed my teeth in the ocean, went body surfing with a sea otter, stepped out into the waters edge and was taken a ways on the back of a man-o-ray that I stepped onto resting in the sand. I was bit by a baby Octopus that wrapped itself around my finger (big mistake allowing that) and watched my arm turn colors and spiked a fever. I climbed canyon walls and repelled down (I was not a natural at the climb but loved going down, free falling and singing after eating my PB&J sandwich at the top overlooking the ocean and the canyon.) Spectacular. A full moon, scorpions at the fire and a pack of hungry flea ridden dogs laying with me as I gave them every last morsel of food I had with me. Cans of tuna fish devoured and bread and beans. They then would not leave me until I was forced to climb the school bus for home. I cried leaving them and spent the next month sicker than I had ever been from my time in Mexico but it changed me in a profound and good way and I am very thankful for my time.
I also went on a 5 day river trip down the Green and the Yampa in Utah and Colorado. The days were challenging and beyond breath taking. One of those days we went into the tongue of some rapids called “The Maytag” and this giant swirling abyss swallowed our raft. I remember holding the rope for dear life. I remember the power of this whirlpool, the striking of rocks and people against my body and the cold of the river. I remember gasping for air as the river shot our raft out of the swirling madness. So many kids gasping for air. The river tried to help us get out (I believe that) and one by one we were rescued. It humbled us all and we never forgot it.
I have also long been a hiker. I love to walk and climb and move and well into my 60’s I walk daily up and down country roads and along mountain streams and across open meadow. The worst two years of my life were recovering from tearing everything in my foot. I couldn’t walk for years and I was drowning in my suffering and in the inability to walk in natures healing balm. During that time I would drag myself outside and sit in the elements and listen to the birds and watch the bee’s and feel thankful for their companionship. It humbled me and I never forgot the gift. I am most thankful that season shifted and now..I hike and am thankful for every step.
I share these adventures because today is Earth Day 2020. We are in the middle of a world wide pandemic. It can feel pretty overwhelming and yet from the sheltering of people from the invisible killer (Covid-19) there has been a shift in our beautiful earth. It is beginning to heal. The air is fresher, the oceans cleaner, the peace….well…it can be deafening. We are understanding the sound of silence like never before. It’s a beautiful thing.
The Keeper Of Me 