“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting- over and over announcing your place in the family of things.” -from “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver- We come out here to escape distraction and obligation and the constant consuming life … Continue reading
The skin of the planet is fragile. Watch. Listen. You can only listen. By listening, you may see a sparrow warming itself in steam on the corner of your gutter. By listening, you may see the first crocus shimmy up from the frozen Earth. A sentry, the first scout. You may hear the fall of … Continue reading
We were born before the wind Also younger than the sun Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic -Van Morrison- August 2, 2014 on board M/V Kennicott, Alaska Marine Highway System I woke this morning to the gentle rocking of waves and the steady mechanical thrum of the engine below … Continue reading
“It’s easy to be blind to the all the treasures we hold / Get up to the mountains, I get up high / And I take a look around before it all passes by” from “Hallelujah” by the Reeltime Travelers …perched-awed-humbled-ancient rocks-stable-pieces shining-some red, some black… Boulders, stacked one on the other like pieces of … Continue reading
Summers were spent in the alternate reality that was Beach Haven. The small strip of beach between the YMCA camp and the harbor on Orcas Island, divided by large rocks that jutted out into the sound. A natural barrier against reality. Sometimes civilization would weedle its way in, in the form of yogurt containers and … Continue reading
Water slips by, too fast and wild to be captured. Is it the same with time? Continue reading
Us native Oregonians joke amongst ourselves sometimes, that people visiting our fair state in winter probably find themselves here on the one sunny day we have between November and June. Unbeknownst to them, Oregon likes to play tricks in the winter to convince out-of-towners that rain is a rumor here. A couple times throughout the … Continue reading
Well, Happy New Year! In 2012, I rang in January 1st surrounded by friends old and new in Seattle. My mantra for the year was to “dwell in Possibility.” That was certainly the case! I did much galavanting outdoors and spread my wings anew this year. January 1st of this year was much less eventful, … Continue reading
“America’s history is written in her trees. Ponderosa Pines have thick bark, giving the species a high tolerance to surface fires. These trees likely survived dozens of wildfires. Ponderosa are often widely spaced and surrounded by lush grasses because of natural fire disturbances, creating a true haven for wildlife. Everything from grizzly bears to herds … Continue reading
I touch the Earth because there are so many things I do not see. -Alex Caldiero- (quoted in Red by Terry Tempest Williams) A few months ago, I wrote about how capturing the essence of a city is best done through snapshots- brief views of a place that each capture its character. At the time, … Continue reading
in the midst 