The Home Stretch

Five years ago this would not be true, but now that we find ourselves in Northern Arizona and New Mexico we are close to home. Thus, we feel the winding down of our road trip as we enter the home stretch. It’s hard to believe we have been on the road for over six weeks and have traveled over 7,000 miles.

Some time after Las Vegas we felt a bit of a shift. The bad weather seemed to be chasing us, we had a pipe burst back home, and we knew the road ahead was a path we have taken before. Without new places to explore (well, there are always new places – but, you know what I mean) we were feeling the tug of reality. We didn’t want to admit it, but eventually, I guess, one needs a little routine and predictability. Whatever the reasons, we reluctantly started to accept that the time had come. I must say, I don’t think we feel neither happy, nor sad, about returning to Denver. It’s just time.

We have been reflecting on all our adventures from Texas to California, the unobstructed and varied landscapes, the cold mornings, the birds we’ve been learning about, and so much more. I have been pondering my state of being while on this journey. The journey of my mind has been as intriguing as our travels. Like childhood days, carefree and full of wonder, there is so much time to daydream. Time to allow the mind to spin thoughtfully, weaving and absorbing minute details and emotional pulls. The true expression of living in the moment.

Without being tied to the clock our sense of time has shifted. Our plans have been our own, choosing when and where we want to be. Without having to worry about what we should be doing we’ve had the luxury of doing what we want to be doing. What I will miss most is the spirit of spontaneity and that unexpected jolt from surprises. But damn, when we had it we relished every moment. And, we won’t forget. Well, I might, but now I have this blog to help me remember.

What I cherished most about this road trip was being able to just be. No worries about doing those mundane items on the never ending to-do list, no household chores, no work tasks, no CNN, very little internet – basically, no obligations to anyone or anything. What that did provide was time together to contemplate our lives, the path we have been on, and the one we might take next. Our rhythm together was simple and fell into place more easily than I expected. We weren’t cramped for space, longing for home, annoyed by each other’s habits, and never tired of conversation. Best of all, was our constant connection to nature. We bathed in all it had to offer, from the lizards to the birds, the streams to waterfalls, the desert to the mountain tops, the wind and rain, prickly pear to pinyon pine, shells to rocks, the inescapable horizon, and the clouds and stars in the sky above. I am humbled by the Native Americans who truly honor the land in a manner of deepest respect and appreciation. Worship it and it does give back.

How do we keep this feeling of serenity, clarity of thought, peace with our own imperfections, desire to wonder and dream? How can we find time, and use it well, when we get back from the freedom of our happy trails? Well, I guess we will just have to find out. Maybe I’ll write about it.