Memories of My Summer Adventure

As winter descends upon us with increasing intensity, I am remembering those warm summer days during my adventure on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. My hiking friend and I had dreamed and schemed about this trip for several years and finally committed to making it happen. Landing on a dirt airstrip in a propeller plane, sleeping in a conestoga wagon, flying on a helicopter into the canyon, rafting for three days on the Colorado River, sleeping on a cot in the canyon in the wide open spaces, gazing at the endless night sky before drifting off to sleep then being awakened by the intense light from the moon as it appeared over the canyon rim, the list goes on as new experiences for me, things I never dreamed I would ever do. And there I was, as a new grandmother who had just spent four months with my granddaughter in the Pacific Northwest, ending a wonderful summer with this trip. Yet experiences like these are never complete without the interaction that occurs with others and relationships that are developed with those who are part of the adventure. We connect with some immediately and perhaps even intensely, and sometimes develop lifetime relationships from these shared experiences. Because we are in this special place at this time, our adventure is unique only to us. And because of that, we must pay attention to our place in the universe and continue to search for meaning in these special opportunities that are presented to us.