[at-l] Boredom (was Bryson's bookl)

[rbenhameda@comcast.net (Rami)]

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Ziggy?  Is that you?
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: kahley
  To: Jim and/or Ginny Owen ; at-l@backcountry.net
  Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 8:26 AM
  Subject: Re: [at-l] Boredom (was Bryson's bookl)


  At 03:19 AM 9/13/02 +0000, Jim and/or Ginny Owen wrote:

  >It starts with looking small - if the flowers aren't in bloom (and they
  >won't be when you start your hike at Springer) look for the colors of the
  >fungi on the trees and the lichen on the rocks.

  I remember a couple Februarys ago, I came in all woohooey because
  the lichens that grow on the verticles of waterbars were blooming
  again.  It's always been my personal harborer of spring and I've
  been know to dig through snow to see if the lichen is grey or pink.

  Strange fascination, fascinating me.  Changes are taking the pace
  I'm going through.  Maybe the pace we travel has something to do
  with it.  I get much more bored by a drive on the interstate than I
  do on a back road.  A fast boat ride makes everything blurred and
  empty but I stand still and watch the ripples change their size,
  but never leave the stream of warm impermanence and so the days
  float through my eyes but still the days seem the same yet never
  boring.

  >Look at the patterns that
  >the rocks make. See the beauty of sunshine glistening on snow, or ice
  >crunching underfoot and listen to the creaking and groaning of winterbare
  >trees as they rub together. When spring arrives, take time to look and
  >listen, to learn what birds are singing and what flowers are blooming.
  >Spend time watching sunlight sparkle on the water or shadows dancing on a
  >forest floor.  Shut your eyes and enjoy the caress of a breeze against your
  >hot face.  There have been times I've just sat and listened to the wind, or
  >stopped hiking to appreciate a thrush singing in the bushes.  Learning a
  >little about flowers, trees, birds, the history of the trail (why I like
  >guidebooks), helps.  I don't just see a 'flower' I see iris or trillium or
  >shasta daisy.  It keeps me alert and focused to learn as I hike. In the
  >fall, each tree has its unique colors and patterns, no two alike.  To me it
  >was endlessly fascinating to watch the changing of the seasons as I hiked.
  >
  >A lot of the hikers who burn out are those who are so focused on the final
  >goal (Katahdin) they ignore the value of the journey. Some of the speed
  >hikers get bored because their focus is set only on how many miles they are
  >hiking, not why they are hiking the miles.   Reaching Katahdin just means
  >getting back to work sooner - I'd rather focus on how to stretch out my time
  >to spend more time doing what I really enjoy doing - experiencing nature in
  >all of its manifestations.
  >
  >A lot of us are so used to being entertained from outside ourselves, we have
  >forgotten how to amuse ourselves.  Aside from being aware of the world
  >outside, I sing, make up silly songs or poetry (really really bad), talk
  >philosophy with my husband, argue endlessly in my imagination with various
  >people I will never talk to in real life ("Why did you route the trail over
  >this hopeless PUD?"), formulate long prayers of thanksgiving, think about
  >the fascinating question of pasta vs rice for dinner, etc.  When Mountain
  >Roamer and Outta Chocolate hiked, they had a real advantage because they had
  >never lived with TV or radio, so they knew how to make up games, sing songs,
  >and live life with the uninhibited joy of children.
  >
  >Not everyone knows how - but it sure is fun to try.
  >
  >Ginny
  >
  >_________________________________________________________________
  >Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
  >
  >_______________________________________________
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