A Spectacular Journey
It’s February and this is my first blog for 2011. (Who knows when I’ll write the next one?) I’ve been busy working diligently on my second book and going on adventures with my son, Casey. In my last blog, I mentioned that Casey became a finalist in the 2010 Canon Photography in the Parks contest. He ended up winning first prize, and as a result he received a new camera and photo printer. Since then he’s been planning our summer vacation to Glacier National Park. As always, he’s in search of exciting opportunities to expand his photo gallery.
I see now that as parents, we don’t know in the beginning where our journey with our kids will take us. A friend of mine said recently that she has become a ballet aficionado after attending more than 25 children’s dance performances. “I had no idea what a battement tendu was until my daughter started taking ballet lessons,” she said.
Although I still have no idea what a battement tendu is, I do know what she means about parenting and the unexpected experiences it can bring. Because of my son’s intense passion for exploring the great outdoors, I’ve become an avid hiker along with him, venturing off trail with only a topography map and a GPS to guide us. We’ve slid down snowy mountains in the dark of night, praying that the sky will stay clear and that our headlamps will keep working. “You have to be willing to hike at night if you want to take a picture of the sunset from the top of a mountain,” Casey insists.
I’ve lost sleep re-living our most perilous moments and listening to my husband question my judgment (sometimes with good reason, I admit). Even so, I wouldn’t trade our adventures together for anything. Captured in countless photos are the hidden waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge, panoramic scenes of the Cascade Range and the beautiful Oregon coastline illuminated by the last light of the day. Through my son’s eyes I’ve seen unforgettable beauty.
As the year unfolds, I send love and blessings to parents everywhere. May your children bring you joy and take you to exciting places you will remember forever.
Best wishes,
Ellen