Steamboat Mountain, where Mrs. Smith told me I could "see forever" was so covered in clouds and fog that I could see less than 5 feet. But as I reached the bottom of the mountain, the sun appeared and ...
Oh.
My.
God.
Today was the day I renewed my faith, and then renounced it just as quickly. I realized that God could not wish me to enjoy something so euphoric. If He forbids me to have drugs, drink or sex, then why, oh why, can he let me see what appears in the North? It is more than I have ever felt, and only slightly less than my most vivid dreams.
There are no words to describe what I’ve seen, but I’ll try…
Every turn, every dangerous cliff was surrounded by immense beauty that doesn’t even translate to these pictures. I was nearly brought to tears at the sight of my new home.
I spent the day in awe. When I felt tuckered out at about 2 p.m., I found the Liard Hot Springs -- as suggested to me by both my boss and Mrs. Smith -- and I soaked in the warm (and almost burning) waters until I felt at home. There were incessant mosquitoes (ahh, just like Florida) and a tactless 13-year-old girl who followed me as I doggy-paddled through the steaming bath. I got out and smelled of sulfur for the rest of the day. I didn’t care.
I got to Watson Lake. I ate a buffalo burger after seeing a buffalo not 10 minutes before. This was my "grand mission" a few days ago. It all seems so simple to accomplish now.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Florida. I love everyone in it. Hell, this is my new background on my laptop:
But I have to be here. This is why I came. This is who I am.
And I thank everyone for making me this way.
7 comments:
Dare I say the Florida Cracker has traded in some crumbs for fur........Brrrrr. Your blog is truthful and humorous, and your pics incredibly beautiful. The ride is fun. Stay safe my travelling son. (where is Liard Hot Springs-how hot is that water??)
What am I doing in that picture?
I believe you're preparing to run from the cops at he end of the street.
Mom, the Laird Hot Springs varies. At one end, the hot water bubbles up and can be about 110-120. At the other end, where it flows after cooling a bit, it's like bathwater.
I could only make it about 20 feet away from the super-hot end.
Don't worry, it's not that your not a Floridian anymore. It is just that you are continuing your journey as an Uberadentoner. My only suggestion to your sparkling repertoire would be that there was a sense of disappointment that there was no soundtrack to the video...
Your writing is so touching ...
Yes, Louis, that tends to happen when I've been drinking. This post was written after the karaoke scene from day 8 at about 4 a.m.
Post a Comment