The Life Well Lived

A’s first birthday

I’ve been a slacker for a few weeks while I’ve been working through some things medically, but A’s 1st birthday is one of those things that deserves at least a comment.

Sometimes things are just right in the world, and it’s cool to think that people can make it thus.

There are times where everything just feels right. It’s kind of amazing that people’s caring can actually just make just such a moment feel right. J and I had decided that A. deserved a birthday party. I would usually laugh at the prospect of a one year old birthday party because it’s not like they understand the relevance of a birthday party. Maybe a first birthday is usually about the parents, and if so all I can say is I am pleasantly shocked at how many put time and effort into giving us some emotional support. It’s needed even in the good times.

That being said, I do think A. greatly appreciated the attention. The gifts are all things she is using or will use. She may not understand from whence they all come, but there is a huge feeling of gratitude that I have for all of those who put time, effort, and cost into coming for her birthday party. It reminds me how far her life has come from when J and I were buying her an outfit while we were in St. Kitts because we thought it almost cruel that a child born with all of her medical and family issues should be sitting unvisited in a hospital bed with nothing to her name. At that point, everything around her and on her was labeled as hospital gear. Yuck. Well, now she is spoiled, at least when it comes to material goods and attention. While I never want it to go too far, it may be her joy with new things that I am most thankful for from the party. Honestly, I am stunned so many people cared enough. Sometimes, things are just right in the world.

My favorite A. moment of the week:
Sitting down across from A. and rolling a ball back and forth with her expressing glee. I had been trying over the weekend, and she would only occasionally roll the ball back. Then we sat down this week and spent 20 min rolling it back and forth. It may seem small, but A. expressing joy at playing with somebody else (me) is one of those precious moments to be remembered.

Grand Canyon

Sadly, I know not words to do justice to the trip down the Grand Canyon. Top thoughts from my trip down the Grand Canyon:

The rocks and cliffs are amazing. There is nothing like looking up at 2,000-3,000 feet of rock and thinking about just how old the rocks are. I kept looking at them wondering how many inches represent the rocks that are only as old as recorded history. There is something awe inspiring in looking up at thousands of feet of rock cliff and wondering whether the part that represents recorded history would be as thick as a ream of computer paper.

My favorite hike was about 500 feet up a cliff to a granary. We’re not talking about up a gentle slope. The hike was climbing often on all 4s. The views from this hike were spectacular, and all I kept thinking was “American Indians used to haul grain all the way up here?” Coming back all I could think about was making that hike hungry because I wanted the grain from the granary…nobody ever said the people living in the Grand Canyon were soft. Wow. I was hurting just hiking up there carrying a just a water bottle and a disposable camera.

It’s amazing how camping with the same group of 30 people for a week will lower one’s inhibitions. On the first night, we’re all making the slog of a trek the maximum distance from anyone else to go take a piss in the river. By the last night, we’re all going within 30 feet of the boat and just thinking to our selves that it doesn’t matter because it’s dark anyway. The other amazing thing is how luxurious it feels to be back to good plumbing. No more number 1 and 2 in different places. No more falling in the river at 2am when nature makes an inconvenient call. Sometimes it just takes a basic experience to realize how spoiled I am.

I loved Bryce Canyon in Utah where a few of us went after the trip for some day hikes. The pillars against the countryside are beautiful. I think my second favorite hike from the whole trip was there as we hiked down to the bottom there and back up (change in elevation about 500 ft). This hike was great, and it felt like a complete luxury to have a nice, fairly smooth path.

Finally, I missed my wife and kid pretty much every night. One would think it would be the laying on the ground or anyone of the other inconveniences of camping with a group of 30 that would make one miss sleep. Honestly, it was the lack of a kiss goodnight, lack of a baby’s giggle, and the wondering what I was missing at home that kept me up at night. I know it’s sappy, but I really like my home life.