antelope freeway, one thirtysecondth mile
Jul. 7th, 2005 11:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zyzylyI woke up early to the sounds of another bombing, and got up to see what the internet had to say. One of my friends was up early too, and we chatted for a while. While we were talking, I had some sort of a spiritual insight about something that had been troubling me, and so went back to bed to ponder it.
I got up again about 11 am, and headed to mass at the little franciscan church, where I was able to spend some time reflecting on why I am here (in a good way). I spent a few minutes after the mass talking with the friar, an older filipino priest who recently came to the parish from san francisco. He told me that he did not enter the franciscan order until he was in his 40s. Like most franciscans I have met, he is simple, humble and full of joy.
I came home after mass with no clear idea of what I wanted to do with the rest of the day. I got back on the internet, but it kept kicking me off. I took that as a sign that I needed to get out of the house, so I tossed my camera, a peach, and a couple of bottles of water in the car and took off.
I ended up at point reyes, which I often speak of as my spiritual home. I suppose it is the perfect destination for the kind of spiritually-oriented day I was having. It was a beautiful afternoon--about 70 degrees with a slight breeze. I got out and decided on a trail I hadn't hiked in a very long time--the mount wittenberg/sky trail, which is mostly uphill.
The last time I hiked this trail was when I was 17. My friends and I spent a week backpacking along the point reyes trails during summer break, in preparation for a longer trip in the yosemite high country. When I reached the peak, I thought a little about that trip. I remember hiking along the trail, wishing I could spend my life as a wanderer.
As I sat up on the hill, watching the clouds go by, I thought a little about the possibility that I might one day become a franciscan. Then I thought about a girl I used to know a long time ago, and wondered where she was now. I had a crush on her, but didn't have the emotional equipment do do anything about it at the time. Then I saw a bunny and that kept my interest for a while. I stayed up there until the fog started coming in, and then headed back down. I took the below picture on my way down.
The picture is of Black Mountain. It was one of my grandfather's favorite places--it was his mountain--his spiritual home. He used to spend hours riding his horse up there.
I thought about him, and how, 20 years ago, when I thought my life was over, he brought me to this very place and shared his love of life with me. He took me to all his favorite places, and instilled in me not only a love of this place, but a reason to keep going on. I am grateful, and remember.
As evening fell, I drove into point reyes station and had dinner at the station house cafe. They had a delicious carrot curry soup. After eating I headed home. I took lucas valley road, which is the kind of drive I was thinking of when I bought this car--lots of twists and turns, but beautiful to behold.
a very satisfactory day.
I got up again about 11 am, and headed to mass at the little franciscan church, where I was able to spend some time reflecting on why I am here (in a good way). I spent a few minutes after the mass talking with the friar, an older filipino priest who recently came to the parish from san francisco. He told me that he did not enter the franciscan order until he was in his 40s. Like most franciscans I have met, he is simple, humble and full of joy.
I came home after mass with no clear idea of what I wanted to do with the rest of the day. I got back on the internet, but it kept kicking me off. I took that as a sign that I needed to get out of the house, so I tossed my camera, a peach, and a couple of bottles of water in the car and took off.
I ended up at point reyes, which I often speak of as my spiritual home. I suppose it is the perfect destination for the kind of spiritually-oriented day I was having. It was a beautiful afternoon--about 70 degrees with a slight breeze. I got out and decided on a trail I hadn't hiked in a very long time--the mount wittenberg/sky trail, which is mostly uphill.
The last time I hiked this trail was when I was 17. My friends and I spent a week backpacking along the point reyes trails during summer break, in preparation for a longer trip in the yosemite high country. When I reached the peak, I thought a little about that trip. I remember hiking along the trail, wishing I could spend my life as a wanderer.
As I sat up on the hill, watching the clouds go by, I thought a little about the possibility that I might one day become a franciscan. Then I thought about a girl I used to know a long time ago, and wondered where she was now. I had a crush on her, but didn't have the emotional equipment do do anything about it at the time. Then I saw a bunny and that kept my interest for a while. I stayed up there until the fog started coming in, and then headed back down. I took the below picture on my way down.
The picture is of Black Mountain. It was one of my grandfather's favorite places--it was his mountain--his spiritual home. He used to spend hours riding his horse up there.
I thought about him, and how, 20 years ago, when I thought my life was over, he brought me to this very place and shared his love of life with me. He took me to all his favorite places, and instilled in me not only a love of this place, but a reason to keep going on. I am grateful, and remember.
As evening fell, I drove into point reyes station and had dinner at the station house cafe. They had a delicious carrot curry soup. After eating I headed home. I took lucas valley road, which is the kind of drive I was thinking of when I bought this car--lots of twists and turns, but beautiful to behold.
a very satisfactory day.
