Hope, Jokes, and Dogs

So, my summer was not what I expected it would be.

Here I am at the Northern terminus on Mt. Katahdin, beginning my journey south

I planned to run the entire length of the Appalachian Trail; a dream that has germinated for the past 14 years or so.  Instead, I developed tendonitus in both ankles in the very first days of the journey, and had to stay off my feet for a solid 6 weeks.  

I decided to put the run on hiatus, unable to hold off the life responsibilities of finding work and starting a new life post graduate school. 

I also planned on participating in a botanical collecting effort while I ran, to document some of the treasured and threatened biodiversity of the Appalachian range. Loosing both the run and collecting efforts were a deep loss for my soul.

The rare Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), whose populations in Maine are dwindling due to overshading by dense mature forest.

The rest of the summer was spent traveling, visiting friends, camping in national forests and parks and beginning to search for meaningful work in conservation biology.

From the woods to the Bronx. Baby pace was just the right speed.

Good friends, easy walks and beautiful campsites across the country nourished my soul and rejuvenated my spirits.

My best friend Erin, fitness guru extrodinairre and Reba, faithful companion in the woods surrounding Washington, DC.

Travels across the southeast Appalachian Range. Epically beautiful, no matter how you arrive.

I ended my travels by arriving in Berkeley, CA to visit family and settle into the next adventure of searching for a job and my new home.

Garden ornamentals in my families yard in Berkeley. Sweet healing of nature.

Although wonderful to be with family, it has also been a tough transition to stay still after years of hard work, and an energetic let down to be without structure or deadlines.

At least there is always baking! Thank you Triticum sp. (wheat)!

However, there are three things that have been making life bearable. I took this line from a brilliant movie I watched recently, called Tracks:

"It seems to me the universe gave us three things to make life bearable: hope, jokes, and dogs. But the greatest of these gifts was dogs."

The film is about a young woman on a journey across the Australian desert traveling with only her dog and three camels. It is beautifully shot, with authentic acting and gripping storytelling. It spoke to a deep yearning in the human soul with peace, solitude and the simplicity of nature.

With the news of the race for arctic drilling, the European refugee crisis, and ocean acidification, it is difficult for me to find hope and simple peace. I feel I must act and begin to remediate our coastlines, conserve our natural resources and lend a hand to people who are suffering. So, step by step, I am hoping for and seeking solutions.

Any journey tells us, that each step brings us closer to where we we'd like to be, and perhaps most importantly, brings us closer to each other.