Category: nature

Camping Monsoon

Posted on Posted in humor, nature, nostalgia, the things we doLeave a comment

Many years ago several of us went camping up past Eleven Mile in the mountains of Colorado. We planned to be up there for 3 days. There was an adult and one child in one tent and two adults and two children in another tent.

We didn’t bring anything to do in our tents because we were planned on fishing, hiking and hanging out outside. Towards the afternoon of the first day, one person was commenting on the anvil cloud as he looked up into the sky. With a roll of our eyes, my best friend and I started mocking the him (well, because we’re sarcastic like that). The sky was beautiful, except for that anvil cloud. He said it meant rain, a lot of rain. Well growing up in Colorado, my best friend and I knew that the weather could change at any moment but we checked the weather before leaving and it was going to be beautiful weather. We were prepared … probably, maybe.

Continuing to mock this man and tease that he wasn’t a weather man and it wouldn’t be too bad … it began to rain and then rain harder and then feel like a monsoon. It rained for 18 hrs, each of us with nothing to do but sit in our tents.

Lesson learned … I mock you, I get double trouble. Ha ha ha

Bees and other flyers

Posted on Posted in balance, grateful, healing, healthy, humor, nature, over-coming fears, peace, perceptionLeave a comment

When I was a kid, well and way into my adult-hood, I was terrified of bees and other flying creatures.

I didn’t like butterflies because they seemed as confused as moths and would flitter about aimlessly. I couldn’t dodge them because I didn’t know which way they’d be going.

I especially didn’t like bees. I was terrified of them. When I was five years old we were on a camping trip. My older brother and I were exploring and found an old ticket booth. As he opened it up we were surrounded by bees. He was stung mercilessly while I only got a few stings but one that would forever remind me. I had a little crevice in my nose for most of my life from one of those stings. (I think it finally went away about 15 years ago.)

My fear of bees was a source of entertainment for all who witnessed it. When I’d work in the flowerbeds, if a bee came I’d run as fast as I could, flailing my arms like a mad women. The elderly couple across the street loved it. I had other similar occasions where people would see me screaming and running; at picnics, in parks, etc. I’ve seen adults and kids alike, laughing hysterically at the sight.

In late 2003 I had a TBI. One of the very incredible things to come from that was that I no longer had any fear of bees or other flying creatures.

In 2005 I went into a butterfly hutch and was surrounded by thousands of butterflies, I was amazed by them.

I realized I no longer had a fear of bees when I went with my mother to a lavender farm to cut fresh lavender. I was squatting on the ground clipping and realized that I had bees buzzing all around me and I was fine.

I now have a tree not far from our front door. This time of year, as I walk by it, all I can hear is the beautiful hum, the buzzing of many bees on the blossoms and I feel a sense of awe throughout my being.

The difference? The TBI slowed me down and reconnected me to nature in a way that I hadn’t been since I was a child, living in the mountains of Colorado.