with his jovial chuckle, gary recounted the time he and his buddies took a trip up to alaska. gliding along the rivers. with no sense of time. enjoying each others presence and the surrounding beauty. floating along in the daylight. then realizing it was four o clock in the morning. and still daylight. and that maybe they should stop and camp. and then gary laughed some more as he offered the memory. nostaglically breathing in those good old days. picturing in his mind a scene that seemed so unknown. so unreal. eternal daylight. endless days.
and then the other night. when i was the one drifting along an alaskan river. gary's story made sense. kayaking along the docile nome river. amidst mountains. and tundra. and willows. and birds. continual blue skies and sunshine. that discourage any sort of prediction of the time. so one simply floats on. not worrying about time. knowing there is more than enough daylight. there is no need to hurry. one can simply float on.
and just when my eyes had nearly forgotten the colour green. they are joyfully reminded. as the landscape gradually transforms. and the mountains come alive. polka dotted by tiny wildflowers. perhaps inspiring a revival of the soul. during those moments when my soul recognizes its unity with the earth. with the river. with the sky. and so i offer thanks. for long awaited renewal. for indescribable beauty. for endless days. when time seems abundant. when hurry seems irrelevant. and i offer thanks. for the soon approaching chance. to share this beauty. this light. with folks who've only heard second and third hand tales. of alaskan adventures.
