A Walk In the Woods

During the long Memorial Day weekend, decided to take a hike in the woods of eastern Washington. The weather was a bit moody but then so was I. It just felt good to get out of town and revel in the chaos of nature.


As we stomped our way through Icicle Creek Gorge, we took in the spectacular views of the Cascades. It alternated from clouds to sunbreaks as we climbed towards the top of the trail, a hawk soaring above our heads. Unfortunately my troubled mind kept nagging at me, telling me that I still haven’t found peace.. only beauty.

There is still a ghost dancing in my head but it only points the way to where I should be heading. Yet stubbornly I just sit down in the middle of the ‘road’ and wallow in my self-pity. I need to try to get past this block and see what is ahead. The hike only allows my emotions to be examined without distraction and the feelings become heavy, angry and conflicted.

The river rages along the side of the trail and noise fills my ears. It is a companion to the emotions raging in my mind. Unaware to my friend Bill, I wish I didn’t feel this way but I put on a facade to cover up my inner conflict. I use my photography to capture where I was to examine at another time when I can appreciate it fully.

Not surprisingly I can’t help but wonder when I will come to terms with some of my feelings. Can’t drown them with rum & cokes forever I guess. But I know it isn’t a hopeless situation and need to take it easy on myself.

“Time and motion
Flesh and blood and fire
Lives connect in webs of gold and razor wire

Spin a thread of precious contact
Squeeze in all that you can find
Spontaneous relations
And the long-enduring kind.”