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Some words haunt you…
By Russ | May 5, 2009
I just got off the phone with my friend Denise, who also happened to be one of my first commercial clients as a photographer. She loves what we’re doing and offered a home for my cameras while we are gone.
At one point, she asked me when it was we decided to go on our trip. It was a little hard to say since it was so many things at once. For me, there was a point when we were riding through the vastness of Joshua tree, descending from Cottonwood to the end of the park that I felt in every cell of my body that this was what I wanted to do. I don’t have many religious moments or moments when I’m spontaneously moved to tears, but I have to admit, as I was gripping the handlebars with the wind whipping around me through the cool desert morning, I began to tear up. Laura was riding ahead of me and a great valley lay in front of us slowing growing larger and that instant felt PERFECT.
But it was also many things before that moment.
I remember a conversation with my college roommate Iain. We were outside of Sproul Hall, sitting on the planters, having those deep philosophical conversations that seemed to happen every night in college, but so rarely after. Those nights always seemed so full of possibilities.
“You know, when we’re old. When we’re fifty or sixty, we’re going to wish that we were 20 or 30 again. That we could have another go at it,” he said. I nodded in agreement.
“But,” he continues, “what we don’t realize is…that the wish IS coming true right now. The wish has been granted.”
The wish has been granted.
The wish IS coming true. I still get goosebumps when I think about what it means. It feels like I’ve been offered a chance to hop back into a time machine. It feels like I’ve been offered the chance to cheat old age and death for just a while longer. It feels like I’ve been given an authentic choice in my life and I’m going to choose the one that hints at great joys but not without paying the great price of living in ambiguity — running on shifting sand.
But we’re ok with that now. The road is calling
Topics: Preparing to Leave |
May 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Russ,
I am experiencing a juxtaposition of what you about to embark on and what my 18 year old is. He joined the Army today. How polarized is that? I am so excited to read about your travels and adventures yet with news like this about my son I am just numb. Life is just funny that way. I felt what you said about getting goose bumps at certain moments. I am sure you guys will experience a lot of those. There is a book “Be here now” by Ram Dass. I guess that is all that ever really happens anyway, but do we actually realize it?
I am very excited for you guys - Peace and Blessings on your path!
May 6th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Right on. Follow your dream!
May 11th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
[...] Some words haunt you… [...]
May 20th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
i’m happy to hear another voice describing bike touring and/or being in the desert as a religious experience! certainly. if you and your partner end up in Denver or Boulder, i’ll be happy to direct you to a friendly house! i suspect you’ll stay on roads less traveled though…