Lead The Mind, Body Will Follow!

Just stop, look around, where ever you are in public and you may notice it.  Almost everywhere you go in America today, you see someone out of shape, unhappy, or even down-right angry about something...but they don't understand why.  I was at my local gym this morning, and even in the fitness environment, I noticed people,some displaying all three of these traits.  So naturally I went out of my way to smile, say hi, and get to know some of those people.

When I see an unhealthy person, I recognize a soul I once saw in myself.  I was unfit, unhappy, and even angry at times although the anger didn't linger and I generally found life to be joyful.  Most of my fitness and happiness challenges in life seemed to come from accidents and general heartaches I got my self into.  Often I chased a dream that wasn't mine; perhaps I was trying to meet someone's expectations or maybe it was due to the pop culture of my adolescence.  TV, music, fashion trends; we're all affected by them, even if we don't understand or believe it.  But then, not so too long ago, I started questioning my motives in life or my way of life and being determined to be different than everyone else, I set out on a quest to discover the true me.  Of course this also a journey to discovering where I came from as well.

When I was a kid, we had the true American dream life...Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet(r).  Really, you see commercials today showing kids of summer with the rope swing, the crush on the older girl, and the Cocoa Cola (r).  That was me.  I ate hot dogs and hamburgers, drank soda pop, and indulged in almost every candy available in the country.  But somehow, buy great luck maybe, I didn't get diabetes, didn't get obese, and I generally stayed active and happy.  Now I know today's challenge with children is staying active, especially with all the school fitness programs being cut due to budget constraints and all, not to mention the general level of parental guidance in the field of fitness and play.  Most adults I know get their fitness on a Wii(r) console or through the movement of their mouse on a PC.  I would have to say that the one major thing I notice from the world of my youth, and that of the one facing today's youngsters, would have to be the level of advertising and general garbage in the media.

So we all know that what you put into your body, you basically get back the same stuff.  You eat cheap carbohydrates, you convert the sugars to fat; you consume highly processed unnatural sweeteners, you overwork your pancreas and you stand the risk of developing type 1 or 2 diabetes, and if you put poison into your body, you basically die.  But what about our minds...could what we be putting in our heads be affecting our health overall...well duh!  Of course it is...disagree, write back and let's talk about it.  My hotdogs and hamburgers didn't come from a mass-production meat farm thriving with growth hormones and antibiotics.  The soda I drank had sugar in it, not this byproduct of corn production called high-fructose corn syrup.  And the candy, well I was just lucky that I kept my fitness and my teeth.

Now some of you out there might work for one of the major corporations, or you might be an investor, but many of us take up opposition to the theory that what we put in our minds and bodies is affecting our lives in a positive or negative way.  I always love to see someone without the information become the expert on the subject or deny the obvious just because they cannot believe that it might even be true.  You know the type of person.  Let's say it's raining outside, clearly.  And this type of person feels the urge to contradict what is common agreement, the fact that it is actually raining outside.  He or she might say, it's not raining!  I've seen real rain, and this is nothing.  Or they might be so engrained to adversity, or have a personality conflict with you that they take opposition to everything you say.  That's often the case in subjects surrounding our society or culture.  Often we put our egos into the equation and take things personally.

 This would probably be a good time for me to plug in some reading recommendations for you all.  First off, if you're taking (or have taken anything) what I've said personally, you might find Don Miguel Ruiz's book The Four Agreements enlightening.  Now I've not always lived my life by the code of The Four Agreements, so please don't take anything I write as gospel.  And don't take it personally...but here are the four agreements in a brief overview of the book.

Agreement 1:  Be impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Agreement 2:  Don’t take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Agreement 3:  Don’t make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Agreement 4:  Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

 After reading this book, I recommend you explore other Don Miguel Ruiz topics, especially The Mastery of Love as a friend recommended that to me when I endured a challenging period in my life involving my wife, Kandy.  Finally, although I found it a tough read to follow and stay in touch with, Eckhart Tolle's book, The Power of Now  offers an intense awakening to the force in our own ego.  This book may heighten your experience in living in the moment as well as help you end your slavery to your own ego.  The first couple of chapters grasped me, I struggled through the middle and found ease of reading toward the end.  My other selection from Tolle, Stillness Speaks read like true poetry to my ears and flowed like the well-written Proverbs of the Bible.  Those on both sides of the spiritual spectrum will enjoy this book as well.

Finally, as someone who was asleep, thought he became awake, and then really woke up, there is no one book that is the source of all wisdom, knowledge, and enlightenment.  Many believe the Bible to be the only guide to living, and it has some great guidance for living that even I still follow although my walk with the Christian faith has diverted paths with those members of a church or body of Christ.  If you are struggling with health issues related to diet and food, please read Daniel, Chapter 1, the part about the choice meats and spirits given to the guards and the fresh fruits and vegetables given to Daniel and his friends while they were in prison.  I've seen the power of vegetables in my life, and once you move through the addiction, dependence, and generally bad habit patterns, you'll feel better,  look fit, and actually be genuinely healthy.

Remember, not "everything in moderation" and more is not necessarily better.  Write back, email or call me if I can be helpful in your health and fitness challenges.  You are not alone and I feel you.

Cheers,

Don

Adversity Can Come Anytime - Chapter 1

It seems like some people area always facing some type of adversity in their lives.  You know the type, the person that is never happy unless they have something to complain about.  For some people, adversity, and the emotions it evokes, are like a drug, feeding their cells and sensory areas just as alcohol or tobacco can do.  Many times, until one is free of the conditioning effect of these self-prescribed medications dispensed by the hypothalamus and distributed by the bloodstream to the cells as they scream for their routine fix, it becomes a vicious cycle.  It's easy to see this in smokers, but try to recognize it in someone around you...trust me, they are there...you just have to open your eyes and see them.

Just as almost everyone else, I've had my fair share of adversity.  Often, adversity does good as it challenges us to improvise, adapt, and overcome.  Remember, what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger...right?  But what happens when adversity comes at a young, immature age, where someone really isn't responsible for their own lives, and basically is dependent on an adult or other caregiver to take care of us?  And what about those challenges that are virtually by accident or by other means beyond anyone's control?  That's probably the situation in my first bout with adversity in my life.  The date was July 9, 1963, my birthday.  I don't remember the details of that day and mostly rely upon my mother and father for the information I'm conveying to you in this post.  Honestly, I don't remember a thing, nor do I have any feelings, but according to my parents, I almost wasn't born.

Apparently, there were complications during delivery on this momentous day in 1963.  The umbilical cord had become wrapped around my neck several times and I was unable to make it out naturally.  A Cesarian Section was ordered and further complications prompted the doctor to tell my father that we might lose the child but we can save the mother.  My father's view at the time, was of course save the mother, we can always have more children.  But by some miracle we both survived and I appeared to suffer no less than a delayed entry into this world, and possibly a wild-nature streak in me.

Now some people might have been seriously affected by  a situation like this.  Perhaps the cord could have constricted, cutting off the supply of nutrients and oxygen to my body and brain.  Perhaps, the trauma could have caused a still-birth.  And just maybe, the whole situation could have been relayed to me later in life as a reason to be a victim for the rest of my life.  Maybe the "Pygmalion" affect would have caused the knowledge of this event to set me up for a life of adversity, always keeping my pressed down from the success, happiness and joy that everyone naturally deserves.  The events to come in my life surely indicate that it could have been a real possibility, and the things I will share with you over the coming months will attest to the obstacles I've endured due to accidents, my own haphazard nature, and other people.  But it's all good!

Not too long after my life's first struggle with adversity, I would ride my trike down a flight of steps off the front porch and have double-hernia surgery by the age of two.  I bet you can already see the anguish building in me as life deals me blow after blow...now I just need to find someone to blame.  Just kidding mom and dad!  Like farmer John says, "Compost Happens!"

That's all for today...check in soon as the "Me" saga continues and I share more adversity in my life.  Until then, wake up early to see the sunrise, tell someone important to you that they are, and think of something you indulge too much in and consider abandoning it for a short period to prove to yourself that you can do it.  And if you can't ask for help...it's closer than you think.

Cheers,

DW

One Year Later, Life After the Forest.

Happy New Year everyone.  Yes, this is how I opened my first blog, one year ago after giving up alcohol for the entire year.  2011 was an interesting year to say the least.  I became a Grandfather in 2011.  Kandy earned her Lighting Certification (LC).  And even my youngest daughter Makenna finally became potty trained...sort of.  Probably the biggest outcome of spending 1 Year In The Forest is that I learned so much about myself and I'd have to say that I realized how all of the events in one's life lead all come together for a purpose in the future.

The Cutest Granddaughter - Rylee!

Usually, when someone asks, "what did you do last year?" or "what have you been up to lately?" the most common reaction is to tell them about things you did, or what you're family is doing, and so forth.  For me, all those things matter, but one major change in 2011 is the awareness of my own nature and a better understanding of the who I am as an individual.

They say something happens to you when you experience stress in your life, or change, or even trauma.  They also say "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" but we all know that is bullshit!  In the past year, I've realized that there were many, many things from my past that I either didn't deal with properly, or I didn't deal with them at all.  Being sober for a full year gives you time to think and to be present in the moment.  Through the years of my domestication, I remember a point where everything was about happiness and then around 12 or 13 years old...the happiness gave way to what some people call "Life" or the reality of life.  Sometimes, life isn't all peaches and ice cream.

Sobriety gave me a second glimpse at all the heartaches in my past.  I also think of all the stupid reactions I did, all the goofy behaviors, all the misguided enthusiasm over the past 30 years and I'd have to say much of that was due to the fact that I wasn't facing my challenges with the proper maturity and I didn't have the guidance from people around me.  And it's not the actual behavior that bites me in the butt, but the lingering regret and wallowing in the emotions following the one-time or pattern of event/events.

In the coming year, I will sharing my history of events and situations that shaped my life, both positively and negatively.  Believe it or not, it all started in the womb, but I don't blame my parents.  That's right, it's not anybody's fault; it just happened.  I'm also sharing some of the materials I've been reading and watching that have helped "enlighten" me over the years, plus I'll introduce you to some of the people who've helped me hone my recovery to happiness.  I've been very fortunate to have all of my friends and family in my life.  I am a lucky man.

Finally, in this overview of 2012's entries into the 1 Year in the Forest blog, I'll continue on my description of the "Real World Matrix" in a kind of pseudo Red Pill Movement where I write from inspiration to explain common elements of society and their effects at keeping us under control.  It should be a wacky year with lots of heartache and fun...stay tuned if you like, and if not, thanks for seeing me through the first year.  It was an eyeopener for me.

Cheers,

DW

Merry Christmas from the Forest....One Week Left in the Year.

 
Wow, it's hard to believe that 2011--and 1 Year in the Forest--is almost over.  This year has been remarkable, and experience I will remember forever and something I'm proud to have accomplished.  After giving up alcohol for a year and blogging about it, where do I go from here?  One thing is for sure, I've decided to keep 1yearintheforest alive.  But what to write about?

A few months ago, someone asked me what I was going to do after my year was up.  I jokingly said that I was going to stay drunk for a year and blog about that.  But obviously this was in the mild sense of humor.  Although my year is not up, I feel great for the experience both physically and spiritually.  One thing I still want to do is to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and I might do that before the year is up.  If not, I will attend a meeting in 2012.  As far as 1yearintheforest.blogspot.com is concerned, I think my next year is going to be about sugar.  Not just sugar alone, but processed confectionery treats sold in the public arena.  At home, we make healthy snacks with ingredients, and I might just share some of those recipes in the coming year.

So, what has 2011 done to me?  Well first off, I learned much about myself and how I deal with depression.  I've already known how I deal with stress, but the after affects of stress, and it's manifestations, have alluded me in the buzz of the 'comfortably numb' effects of two quality microbrews.  Alcohol is insidious in this way and sometimes, you can't see the forest because of all the trees.  Looking back, I've always had a conscious awareness of alcohol avoidance when something major is stressing me out.  Back on New Year's Eve, 1992, I discovered that my ex-wife was having an affair while I was deployed to Korea for a year.  My buddies and I were all set to head out for drinks and celebrating the coming of 1993 when all of a sudden, I wasn't in the mood to drink, or be around people.  All I wanted to do was to go home and deal with the situation.  I've always had that reaction to "sobering" events like that, never to run away--always diving in to fix the situation.

Speaking of "Fixing" this year has also helped me not feel the need to fix things, run things, be in charge of things, Etc., and all that!  Yes, Don, the OCD guy has scaled back my projected-proactivity toward others and it's very nice not having to save the world all the time.

Another mark of 2011, and all the changes that have occurred, is that I've had to let go of some relationships that weren't in the best interest of either parties.  A few years back, I started on a learning quest about the benefits of surrendering one's ego.  There are many books on the subject, a few by Eckhart Tolle, and after reading his works on the ego and humanity, The Power of Now and A New Earth, I have a new live view on my own egotistic motivations in the world.  It's amazing when you realize that some of your passions, motivations, and endeavors were ego motivated.  Some of you may not have this situation, and some of you may not be able to recognize it yet, but there have been a lot of things in my life that I did out of desire, but later I learned that my ego was motivating me to be so.  For readers, I highly recommend Tolle's Stillness Speaks as it was my favorite read in his series.  This book flows like poetry, liken to the proverbs of the bible.


One example of this is my passion for aviation.  I've always wanted to fly, even from the young age of five or six when I'd dream of wearing swim flippers and I could jump up into the air, kicking my legs for liftoff.  I joined the US Air Force partly due to a lack of jobs in Michigan in the 1980s, but also because of all the military branches, I'd love the aviation side most of all.  I think my internal passion drove me to become a pilot, along with encouragement from other aviators, but I realized that sometimes the label of "pilot" or "aircraft owner" sometimes dominated my need to present myself.  Safely, I can confess this, and I'm not concerned how others feel about this, or what comments come from those of you that respond to my blog.  Your recommendations, suggestions, or feelings are welcome, have little impact on my life, and are your opinions--you're very welcome to those opinions.

So in the coming week, I'm co-hosting a New Year's Eve party at my buddy Michael's house.  BBQ, Beer, Wine, and music to go with the fellowship and festivities.  Everyone is welcome to come...just RSVP via my email listed a the top of my blog statement or phone me on my cell.  Look for more on the end of 2011 soon.

Happy holidays!

Don

What happens at Elk Camp...Shows up in this Blog!

As far as elk camps go, ours is no different.  There's a bunch of men who gather for 10 days, not only to hunt, but to exercise that primeval need to bond with other males of their species.  Some of the generalizations of all elk camps are present; the booze, the girly magazines, guns and knives, etc,.  Just imagine a Spike TV program series with a little bit of censorship about every 20 minutes and you'll get the idea.

The Wapiti Warriors is a unique bunch of guys.  Nearly all of us have a background in the military and most of us served 20 years or more, retiring with honors and a few extra pounds around the mid section.  I'm in that category although I've come to realize that I don't fit into this group any longer.  Along with changes in my life, and by recognizing differences in others (some I may have overlooked in the past), I've come to understand that this is "their group" not mine.  So it is with 2011, I move on from the Wapiti Warriors to keep the peace within the ranks.

My tour in the Wapiti warriors began in 1994, the year I shot my first white-tail buck.  I had hunted as early as 14 or 15 years old in South Carolina, and then in Michigan in the 1980s, and when I began hunting and climbing with my buddy Harv in 1991, I began a relationship that would lead to my first buck, first successful summit of Mt. Rainier, and Harv would become best man in my wedding with Kandy.  Most of the Wapiti Warriors were at my wedding in 1996, and we have a long and fruitful history.  But some people change, and some do not.

I hunted this Elk Camp in 1995 and 1996 before shipping off to Iceland in 1997.  Through a series of reassignments in the US Air Force, it would be 2002 before I would rejoin the WW, and even that was a spur of the moment decision.  I just looked forward to being with the guys again and enjoying a good beer in the outdoors.  In the period from 2002 to 2011, I actively hunted two of those years and I missed last year.  The decision to miss 2010 was due to a combination of factors; Kandy's vacation time, Makenna's needs, and mainly because I wanted to take a break and see if I really missed being there with the WW.

Now everyone has their own slant on life, but my perception of the WW is that each member of the WW is a remarkable individual who's character takes on a different entity when mixed into the group dynamics at Elk Camp.  For example, I don't hunt that much because I live out of state, and the rate to put in for the basic elk tag, the special draws, and the effort to push each day isn't a priority for me...I come to help set up, make camp comfortable, contribute propane, shelters, potable water, and physical labor needed when firewood must be split and dead elk need hauling.  If I were a WA resident, I'd keep my hunting points up, put in for draws each year and join into the daily ritual of early mornings and late nights watching for the perfect shot.  But I'm totally satisfied going for a day-hike to see Mount Rainier across the canyon, catch a beautiful sunrise with a cup of hot, black, dark, stark, thick coffee, and stacking firewood and tying knots are fun...maybe it satisfies my OCD tendencies.

Some people change, and some don't; perhaps there's a basic resistance to change, as well as a natural fear of people who are different than you.  I've made some decisions about how I eat based of of scientific evidence and through personal trials that have left me feeling healthier and happy.  Alcohol is only one of them, but food choices I've taken should be accepted as it's my body and my decision.  Some of the WW must be threatened by that because a few have disappointed me with their attitudes, opinions and resistance to my food choices.  At no time have I suggested they change or eat like me...but the fact that I don't eat Eggs and bacon everyday should be a natural thing to expect, not a reason to feel threatened by a petty difference between people.  I should mention that not all of the WW feel this way toward me, and I appreciate those who accept my primarily vegetarian-mostly organic food choices.  I didn't pick this lifestyle to threaten you, it just makes me feel better.

I'd have to say, many people accept the USDA as an independent agency that has the welfare of the American Public's health in mine, but it should be known that the USDA is basically funded by the lobbyist from the beef and corn interests in America.  Often, you've heard me talk about what I refer to as "The Real-World Matrix" and the USDA could be considered a part of that.  Perhaps there's a conspiracy with the USDA and the major health corporations to keep American's on a diet that keeps them in need of healthcare so those corporations can continue to get rich while we enter a second decade of the obesity epidemic.  But what do I know?  I do know that everyone accepted my decision to give up alcohol for a year and since this blog is about that subject, perhaps I should write a little about drinking at Elk Camp....WW Style.

This year at elk camp, there were eight people drinking, I was the ninth and only non-drinker there.  Our WW leader surveyed the boxes of wine and tallied nearly 50 liters of wine, excluding the countless cases and 18-packs of beer, and the undisclosed numbers of bottles of hard alcohol floating from cooler, to tent to behind the wine boxes.  Variety was abundant and we surely had enough alcohol to pickle every hunter within a 20-mile radius for sure!  For some, the day consisted of returning from the morning hunt around 10 am to 11 am and cracking into a beer or glass of boxed wine.  This, accompanied by coffee and breakfast of eggs and bacon, usually followed with more beer or wine until the evening hunt, which over the last few years have led to coming in after dark to enjoy a night of beer, wine, and hot-toddy's.  Some of the hunters have cow tags and are waiting five days to hunt, so their day begins at liquid brunch and by sunset and dinner time, a few are sloshed beyond the point of decent manor and respectful treatment.  Which leads me to the main reason I don't feel a part of this camp any longer.

Our camp has one individual who considers himself the leader by virtue of age and number of years hunting in this area.  None of us is in the military any longer, but this guy must feel he still is, as I, and a few others have challenged his behavior to end up on his shit list.  This has happened at the annual fishing trip in Alaska a few years ago, and that individual (the guy in trouble with the boss) had to lick his wounds and get back in line because being in the group was more important than being respected as a friend.  When someone sees you as merely a subordinate, there's only a line of one-way respect anticipated.  That's when I lost respect for the leader entirely.  I was basically banned from Elk Camp this year because I denied an order to refill the leader's wine glass when it was dictated, not asked, of me.  When you ask someone to please get you something, you acknowledge your respect and appreciation of that act of help and assistance.  But when you bark off orders in short, drunken gruff, you simple diminish respect up and down the chain of command.  Now there are times in war when commanders and squad leaders don't have time to say please and thanks, but we're not at war in the WW...unless some of us are in their mind.

I'm not the first WW member to challenge the leaders manors and disrespectful behavior, but I am the first to admit that my membership in the WW isn't worth it.  Over the years, maybe because I wasn't hunting actively, the leader perceived me as having a lack of worth to him or the group, so his reaction was to try and make me his errand boy or servant to wait on his every need.  When someone respects themselves to take a year off of drinking, change the ways they eat, and ad a regular exercise effort in their life, one's self-worth rises and when you realize your value as a human being, your tolerance for abuse by others declines greatly.  It's a good thing I've always been proud to be different than everyone else, and I'm happy with my life and the healthy changes I've made lately.  Without this, perhaps I'd be worried about being cast out by a tyrannical leader who pickles himself from noon until fall-over time.  My advice to him is within all things important at Elk Camp, do take time to enjoy the sunsets, observe the wind in the trees and listen to the water flow.  Ye find more peace in this natural things then in the spirits within a cardboard vessel.

Yes, There Are Bears In The Forest....But That's Ok!

As Autumn approaches, I realize that I'm "Fall"ing behind in my blog entries.  Fact is, I've never been on time with my blog postings and I resolved myself to not write unless I felt inspired or motivated to publish my thoughts in this forum.  This "take life as it comes at you" approach is never so natural to me as it is when I spend time alone in the actual forest.  Thus was the situation during my Olympic National Park trip in July, and recently during my North Cascades hike in August.

 

 

Looking North from North Cascades NP

After Makenna started full-time preschool in July, I decided to try and get out once a month for a mid-week four day backpacking excursion in order to spend some quality me-time in the wilderness.  I need this from time to time, not only for therapy for my Adult ADD, but also it helps me recover from the general noises, congestion, and mundane experiences of civilized life.  For me, nature re-calibrates my psyche and brings me back to a level where other people can tolerate me.  People who frequent natural areas might understand what I'm talking about, but either way, it will be alright.

I left on a Monday morning and drove through Seattle for a pleasant experience on I-5.  Traffic was good, and I ventured onto Highway 20 (the North Cascades Highway) and visited the town of Concrete, WA.  Pressing on to the Park Visitor's Center, I arranged for my wilderness back-country permit, and left the trail head sometime after four PM.  The sun had already set over the mountains when I left and I realized that I would arrive at my first camp near dark, so I ate dinner at the car and brushed my teeth.

Hiking the first three miles, I arrived at Neve Camp and set up alone and enjoy a blissful sleep next to the Thunder River.  Prior to departing the visitor's center, I asked if bear-proof food containers where required, and the policy will mandate them next year.  For 2011, the requirement is to properly store food in such a container or suspend it overhead appropriately.  Neve Camp had no prepositioned food poles and since it was almost dark when I arrived, I decided that it would be fine to sleep with my food.  Besides, I didn't see any track or sign of bears on the way up, and bear activity seemed low at this elevation so late in the year.

The night was uneventful and I had a great breakfast with coffee in the morning.  Mosquitoes were not present and the weather was great.  I packed everything up dry, and after one last check to leave no trace, I donned my backpack and headed up the path to the main trail.  Feeling a presence, I looked up and made eye contact with a bear at about 40 yards away.  I stood there for a second and knowing my black bears from my brown bears, I stomped my foot, clapped my hands and shouted "go away bear" as this is a good technique to thwart off black bears that are intimidated by backpackers standing 6-feet plus with huge loads on their backs.  However, this is not necessarily a good procedure for dealing with a mother bear and her cub.

The bear staring me down at this moment didn't move initially, but after my attempt at scaring the bear off, I heard a noise and noticed baby-bear bolting up a lodgepole pine tree, reaching an altitude of 20 feet.  Momma-bear then retreated aback a few feet behind a couple of trees and resumed her foraging for food.  Meanwhile, I understood that I needed to give these bears their space and I backed down to the camp area, keeping the bears visible off in the distance.  From momma-bear's behavior, I gathered that she was used to people in the park and since I hadn't startled her in her personal space (about 25 yards) and wasn't threatening her cub, she granted me the audience and went about her feeding without incident.

Often when I'm mountaineering or climbing, I tell my friends that the most common injury in this sometimes-hazardous sport is sunburn.  The same is true about hiking in bear-country, except for mosquitoes are more aggressive than bears at biting me.  This was exactly the case when I hiked up that day to Fourth of July Pass.  Due to the late snow melt and mosquito hatching, August was the new July (like 40 is the new 30) and stopping for more than a few moments invited biting flies and hungry female mosquitoes to your blood supply.  Occasionally, a slight breeze will come up and fend of the bugs for me, but most of my afternoon and evening was spent in the tent reading.  By morning, the insects took a break and I was able to have breakfast and break camp without attack.

As for the rest of my trip, the views from down low weren't too revealing, and I'd decided that the biting insects weren't my desire for the next few days, so I decided to head back down and discover more areas of the Pacific Northwest.  I drove east on Highway 20 through Twisp and Winthrop, and then down to Lake Chelan.  Hot and dry best describes this part of the drive.  90+ degrees and definitely in contrast to the Western Cascades and alpine meadows from the first two days.

After stopping in Wenachee to visit an online gaming buddy, I decided to go to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness just west of Leavenworth, WA.  However, a wildfire just outside of Leavenworth and poor air quality provided the perfect excuse to get a hotel room and take a shower.  The cable TV and comfortable bed weren't bad either.  Next morning, I drove south, stopping at Starbucks in Union Gap, WA and back to home by 2 PM.  Trip over, lots of driving and great adventure, although I'm still searching for the 2011 journey that leaves me unaware of civilization and the hustle and bustle of city life.

More later,

Don

I Will Never Forget September 11, 2001 - In Rememberance of those we lost and the ones we love!

Almost everyone alive today remembers where they were on the morning of September 11th, 2001, the day four commercial airliners were hijacked and used as weapons of terror against the citizens of the United States.  Psychologist have offered many suggestions about why we remember stressful situations with clarity and detail.  The common theory is that we do so as to remember so we don't suffer from the traumatic situation in the future...example: Caveman Bob sees Caveman Jerry attacked by the saber-tooth tiger while hiking alone.  Bob learns from that example and avoids hiking alone in the cat's territory.

But the events of 9/11 may never teach us to avoid the situation that got our nation attacked, nor will it prevent such harm in the future.  Perhaps the greatest impact of our memory of that day is to never forget those we lost, and just maybe, we should use it to appreciate those we still have with us.  I mean the things many of us take for granted each day.

The morning of September 11th, 2001 wasn't a routine morning for me in any sense of the word Routine.  Kandy and I awoken early as I was to fly commercial from Sacramento to Raleigh-Durham in order to pickup my then, 13-year-old daughter Danielle who was coming to live with us.  I wouldn't see Danielle until a week later due to the situation unfolding in New York, DC, and Pennsylvania.

Everything seemed normal that sunny Sacramento Valley morning.  The 40-minute drive to the airport was pleasant and Kandy dropped me at the departure curb, kissing me goodbye like she would see me again at the end of the day.  I checked in, got a coffee, and preceded to my gate to quickly board my flight as everything was right on time.  Kandy departed the airport and drove to work in Roseville, CA, just 25 minutes away.

Occupancy was sparse in my aircraft bound for Houston, then on to Raleigh-Durham, and my seat assignment took me all the way back to the rear of the plane.  Sitting down in the isle seat as I said "hi" to the young college student next to the window two in my row.  We chit chatted for a bit, just stuff about the weather, flying, I really don't remember.  Due to take off at 6:05AM Pacific, our Captain came across the intercom to inform us that the FAA issued a Traffic Delay due to something going on in the east, "probably other delays" he announced.  Josie, the girl in my row, and I continued to make small talk as we assumed that we'd spend the next three and a half hours together, we'd might as well enjoy each others' company.  But then our captain would give us news that would set up the memory of events for me that day.

Meanwhile, as Kandy was driving on the highway, unaware of anything happening in New York or DC, my airplane Captain came across on the intercom again to say that there has been an accident in New York and that one of the World Trade Towers had be struck by an airplane.  That's when Josie and I looked at each other and thought, this isn't going to be a normal day.

Josie was from Texas, a College Student in the Dallas area who was in California for her friend's wedding.  Her friends had dropped her at the airport early that morning in order to begin driving for their honeymoon.  Josie had no other contacts in the area and her parents didn't even know that she was away from school for the weekend wedding near San Francisco.  Before I would learn all of this, our Captain would come across once more to say that the US was under attack and that we would need to take all of our stuff, pickup up our baggage and that our flight was cancelled.

During this time in our lives, Kandy and I only needed one cell phone.  Kandy carried it and we mostly used it for traveling.  I had it with me this day and I immediately called Kandy's office line to leave her a message that I was still at the airport and needed to be picked up.  Kandy arrived at work a few moments later to find everyone there in the conference room watching the images on television that would be played and replayed all around the world.  Someone at work asked, "where's Don?"  "He's on a plane headed for North Carolina" Kandy replied.  Then she would get my voicemail on her office line and she called me immediately on the cell line.

By this time, Josie and I were gathering with others in the terminal where every television in the airport was tuned to a newscast showing the airplanes hitting the twin towers.  Neither tower had collapsed yet, and I could see that Josie was getting nervous about what was going on.  Here was a 21 or 22 year-old-girl with no family in the immediate area, and our freedom and security was being eroded before our very eyes.  I waited until she put down her cell phone and I asked if she was okay.  She said that she couldn't reach anyone and I immediately offered to let her come to our house until we could get her home to Texas.

I phoned Delta Airlines to get an instant credit on my Visa card so that I could drive to North Carolina to pick-up my daughter.  The circumstances around Danielle's decision to come live with us where extraordinary at minimum.  About a month earlier, Danielle came to visit us in California and she never shared her mother's problems with us openly, although we detected something was wrong back east.  The truth to the matter is that her Step-dad had already moved out, her mother was drunk all day, and Danielle was basically going to school sparsely while trying to be an adult and taking care of her mother and six-year-old sister.  Her call to us on September 3rd, 2001 was her first reach out to us to get help...to basically get out of the situation she was in with her mother.  Without hesitation, Kandy and I said yes.

A sunflower in our backyard at Beale AFB, CA.

 Flash backward almost 10 years earlier to 1992-1993 when I was on a one year remote-tour in South Korea and Danielle's mother (my then wife) was drinking, partying, and basically acting like Tonya Harding and Cacey Anthony all wrapped up in one person.  Oh, add the wicked witch of the west from The Wizard of Oz and you'll get an excellent example of what she was like.  My resolve back in 1993 was to save my marriage, keep the family together, and recover, but it eventually became a matter of trying to secure Danielle's safety as a then 5-year-old daughter.  But that story is an entire book of it's own.

Back to September 11th: Kandy would arrive to take Josie and I home, I was immediately recalled to alert status as I was approaching my 20th year in the US Air Force.  Josie's boyfriend was an Army Reserve soldier stationed at Fort Lewis and she was worried about him.  She watched every DVD we owned at the time, as well as CNN and other news casts.  It would be Friday, maybe Saturday before we could get her out on a flight to Texas.  We kept in touch with Josie for a few years, and then through moves and email changes, we lost contact.  We will never forget her and I'm sure she remembers us to this day.

To wrap things up, I made it out to North Carolina, picked up Danielle in Charleston, SC and with a big help from my Dad and Step-mom, Danielle made it safely to our home in California.  Her mother on the other hand, was arrested for disorderly conduct and pepper-sprayed while we were attempting to gather Danielle's belongings.  Danielle was a lucky military dependent child (Military Brat).  She was able to start 8th grade, and finish four years of High School at the same place with all her friends she'd make in the coming months after her move to California.  This is seldom seen in children of military members as we move around quite a bit.

June 7, 2006 - The Day Danielle Graduated from High School

I on the other hand, had applied to retire, had my papers suspended due to the wars to follow 9/11, and was able to reapply after "Stop-Loss" was canceled in 2002.  I retired (honorably of course) on December 1st, 2002 after 20+ years of active duty service.  Kandy and Danielle were present, and through the customary practice of military retirement, the spouse receives a Certificate of Appreciate for his or her sacrifice over the years of service.  This occasion was extra special because Danielle received yellow roses, a symbol of hope and waiting for someone to return from war.  Kind of like the yellow ribbon around the tree.  I fought many battles during my military career, some of them I lost.  I thought one was my custody battle for Danielle in 1993.  We eventually won that one in 2001 when Danielle realized that her life would be better if she came to live with Kandy and I.  Today, she is married, owns a home in Redding, CA and has my first Granddaughter, Rylee to keep her busy.  She is an account representative for SYSCO Foods and is someone I've very proud to call "My Daughter!"

September 19th, 2002, the day of my retirement ceremony.

For me, September 11th will always be a day for remembrance, more so than December 7th, or even my own birthday.  It's a good thing I had younger people back then that needed me.  And it's a good thing I was a service member back then too.  Having a mission, I was able to be brave, not fear the future, and I had others that depended on me.  Much has changed in the past 10 years.  I play more of a support role now.  Kandy and Danielle are the warriors with missions to lead.  For me, Makenna is my new mission, an endeavor equally as important as the military, or any job or career.  I'm very happy for the people in my life.

Makenna - My Fairy Princess!

So what's September 11th mean for you?  Is it just a day of remembering where you were that day?  Or do you only remember the images on the news and the events to follow that auspicious date, 9/11?  For me, September 11th trumps most major events between now and then, as well as those to come.  The person who just cut me off in traffic is not important enough for me to feel anguish or despair over.  The fact that the store doesn't have the item in stock that I had hoped to buy isn't a big deal either.  It doesn't matter what car I drive, or what my title is, or who is listening to me or what ever.  None of that is important enough to override my family and the other special people in my life.  For me, September 11th is a day to reset my priorities, still remember those we lost, and mainly remember those we love.

Kandy & Makenna

Next time you notice the date, and it says September 11, 2012 and beyond, find a special place to sit still and think of what's most important to you.  Love, Peace and Happiness be with you all.

Don

Mountains All Around - North Cascades Highway