Take me back to the Gauley ....
I think I cried when we crossed the Gauley River dam for the last time, on the way back to our respective homes. Subha'anAllah I have found one of the most beautiful places on earth. I thought Rockport, MA was awesome, but West Virginia just takes the cake! Ok, to be totally fair, Rockport is also awesome, but they're two different types of awesome. West Virginia is truly one of the most gorgeous places on earth.
Yes folks, I headed out to the mountains of West Virginia for a weekend with some seriously awesome people. The numbers say alot:
14 girls. 5 cars. 2 cabins. 2 bathrooms(!).
white water rafting, hiking and horseback riding. brownies, smores and other amazing goodness. What a weekend!
This trip was one of the rare occasions where I did not carry my camera, and I think it was a subconscious effort. I sometimes feel that I try so hard to capture the moment that I miss it all together. I've been so blessed in recent years to have the opportunity to take these truly spectacular trips, and I don't want them to blow by - becoming mere memories on my computer. Especially West Virginia, I really wanted to experience it without worrying about capturing it. This summer has been so crazy, and I feel like I've done so much but haven't done anything at all. I guess thats what happens when you try to cram alot into a short period of time.
So, I'm taking John Mayer's words of advice -
While this post does NO justice to the weekend, I will say this - whitewater rafting was AH-MA-Zing. This is my second 'bout rafting, and it was awesome. I think I might be addicted to it ... which is problematic because it is an expensive addiction! My first trip was on the Upper Youghiogheny, at Ohiopyle State Park with the firm. I've wanted to raft for the longest time, but never had the opportunity to do so, and I think that was the same situation with my 11 raft-mates the second time around when we rafted the New River in W. Va.
White water rafting is a fantastic, exhilarating feeling - what a rush! It really makes you realize the power of nature - and reminded me that as much as we think we're in control, we're really not. Nature is so immensely powerful, and we often take that power for granted. Just because we can harness water with a dam doesn't mean that we in any way control the way it flows. We learned that the tough way with Katrina, but I wonder - did we really learn anything at all.
As we dunked our feet in the gloriously cool waters of the Gauley, we were reminded of Sh. Hamza's words of advice -Respect the power of nature.
If you get the chance, take a trip outside of the city ... out where nature is still in control, take it all in ... and deal with the fact that we're not as strong or big as we make ourselves out to be. There is a greater power that could wipe us out in a second. And, we need to respect it, and take care of it.
Yes folks, I headed out to the mountains of West Virginia for a weekend with some seriously awesome people. The numbers say alot:
14 girls. 5 cars. 2 cabins. 2 bathrooms(!).
white water rafting, hiking and horseback riding. brownies, smores and other amazing goodness. What a weekend!
This trip was one of the rare occasions where I did not carry my camera, and I think it was a subconscious effort. I sometimes feel that I try so hard to capture the moment that I miss it all together. I've been so blessed in recent years to have the opportunity to take these truly spectacular trips, and I don't want them to blow by - becoming mere memories on my computer. Especially West Virginia, I really wanted to experience it without worrying about capturing it. This summer has been so crazy, and I feel like I've done so much but haven't done anything at all. I guess thats what happens when you try to cram alot into a short period of time.
So, I'm taking John Mayer's words of advice -
Today I finally overcame
tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame
Maybe I will tell you all about it
when I'm in the mood
to lose my way with words
While this post does NO justice to the weekend, I will say this - whitewater rafting was AH-MA-Zing. This is my second 'bout rafting, and it was awesome. I think I might be addicted to it ... which is problematic because it is an expensive addiction! My first trip was on the Upper Youghiogheny, at Ohiopyle State Park with the firm. I've wanted to raft for the longest time, but never had the opportunity to do so, and I think that was the same situation with my 11 raft-mates the second time around when we rafted the New River in W. Va.
White water rafting is a fantastic, exhilarating feeling - what a rush! It really makes you realize the power of nature - and reminded me that as much as we think we're in control, we're really not. Nature is so immensely powerful, and we often take that power for granted. Just because we can harness water with a dam doesn't mean that we in any way control the way it flows. We learned that the tough way with Katrina, but I wonder - did we really learn anything at all.
As we dunked our feet in the gloriously cool waters of the Gauley, we were reminded of Sh. Hamza's words of advice -Respect the power of nature.
If you get the chance, take a trip outside of the city ... out where nature is still in control, take it all in ... and deal with the fact that we're not as strong or big as we make ourselves out to be. There is a greater power that could wipe us out in a second. And, we need to respect it, and take care of it.
posted by zai5h at Sunday, July 23, 2006
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