Havent posted for awhile - not trip narratives anyway. This isnt an excuse - it is simply where I am. And since my posts have been my attempt to share where I am with you all along the way, I guess in a way this IS trip narrative, isnt it? The space shuttle circled the earth at an altitude of over 200 miles, and it would travel over 17,500 miles/hour. Astronauts up there have a perspective of the world that we simply cannot get down here. They are for a period of time isolated from and unencumbered by the daily activities that occupy most of our time. For a time they live in an artificial world - one that is far simpler and more beautiful than the reality of daily life for most of us. They also see the heavens with a clarity unavailable on the surface. When it is time to leave orbit, they begin their re-entry, a transitional process that brings them back to earth - back to reality. My trip was a little bit like that. For 10 weeks I was away from the daily responsibilities that have become my life. This was Christinas greatest gift to me, and allowed me to see my life and my country from a distance, both figuratively and practically. I am in that re-entry phase now, and it is more difficult than I expected. Not because I dont want to be back. No - I am thankful to be safely home. But at the same time, I am trying so desperately to hold on to something that can do nothing other than slip into my memory. Having seen life from that lofty perspective for awhile, I fear that being back to reality will cause my vision to grow dim again. Wouldnt it be ironic if the physical accomplishment of riding across the continent turned out to be easier than holding on to the person I discovered within?
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 01:20:58 +0000
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