Hello!
Oregon is so incredibly beautiful! I am greatly enjoying the first day of autumn by sitting at the kitchen counter completing homework. I've been home for over a week now, but settling in has not been part of the agenda. For the past week I have been swept away to Central Oregon where I've been visiting family and celebrated my sister's wedding, surrounded by time in Eugene starting my new job as a choir assistant and homework assignments.
In the midst of the filled schedule, I was able to take a break away from these activities for a special occasion. On Monday, my grandma and I got to visit Crater Lake together. This was her first visit to the park located less than three hours away. When we first arrived at the Rim Drive, we climbed a small ascent, and I watched Grandma's eyes widen as she received a majestic welcome by the "Gem of the Cascades". The lake was almost mirror-like, with only slight breezes disturbing its sapphire-blue color. The majority of our day was spent driving the full circumference of the rim--a drive I had never completely covered in all of the times I have visited until now. In the midst of this, I also got to visit an area of the park known as The Pinnacles, which hosts eroded spires of ash towering over a small creek bed. Our visit filled the day, but even more so our enjoyment of spending time together made the day a wonderful one.
I'm off to more homework now, but wanted to post my "Photos of the Week", found in the right-hand column.
Enjoy your week!
Pump Geyser
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Day 117: Saying Goodbye
Hello!
My final countdown has begun. By next Wednesday I'll be back in Oregon. I'm ready for this, but there is always a bittersweet prospect to saying goodbye.
Already over this past week, I've said goodbye to over twenty-five of my coworkers and friends have already left back home--six left an hour ago, with another twelve or so leaving before I depart. Though these friendships are for only three months or so, they have such a deep impact upon me. The realization of all the friendships I have built over these past five summers of working in the national parks has brought me to a very real awareness of global reach--from most anywhere in the world now, I know I can visit and will have a friend.
The store has been under some drastic change--as the staff has left, it's made for a lot more work, especially during the Labor Day weekend; however, the rest of the time the store has become quiet, leaving us finding odd-and-end projects to occupy our time. On Monday, the store will be reducing its hours of operation back to an 8-6 schedule, adjusting to the lack of employees and slimming number of visitors.
The other part of saying goodbye is leaving Yellowstone, especially the Old Faithful area. Having worked in this location for now an accumulated eight months and have watched the seasons turn from winter to spring, summer to autumn, there is a piece of this place that seems to haunt me with so many memories. While other national parks have beautiful landscapes and wildlife or unique rocks or mountains, the geysers of Yellowstone have mesmerized me--each has a distinct character with its own rhythm that one acclimates to. By the end of a working season, employees here speak of heading out to see Beehive or Grand Geysers as though they were visiting a neighbor. There is an amount of investment associated with these geysers, as hours upon hours become added while waiting for an eruption or sitting in the afterglow of a geyser's conclusion. The blend of waiting, strolling the boardwalks leisurely, and exhilaration of spewing steam and water creates a pace that is difficult to transition away from. I remember last year seeing the artificial fountains of Beaverton and Portland and finding myself nearly repulsed at the sight, especially when surrounded by strip malls, parking lots, and rows of houses. I am always grateful to return home--I miss the green and the pleasant atmosphere surrounding Newberg. I miss my friends back home and am excited to return, but I'm sure it won't be long before I experience what John Muir wrote: "The mountains are calling and I must respond."
I am so very grateful for my experience of this summer. It has been challenging and with the presence of summer classes and my new semester of school to get out away from the dorms, but I am deeply grateful to be here nevertheless.
Here are some highlights of the summer:
--At least 100 miles of hiking and strolling the boardwalks this summer (compared to a minimum of 180 in previous years).
--142 postcards sent to friends and family during this summer trip...bringing me to a current total of 298 postcards for the year!
--Saw my first red fox and river otters this year
--Visited two new national parks this summer (Glacier and Wind Cave), bringing me to 20 parks now visited.
--My first motorcycle trip (The Grand Circle of Yellowstone: 125 miles)
--My first summer driving my wonderful new Subaru
--Swam in the thermally-warmed Firehole River (the perfect temperature to swim in!)
--Saw Artemesia, Cliff, and Jewel Geysers
--Read multiple leisure books: Invitation to a Journey, a collection of short stories by George McDonald including The Golden Key, and one other title I can't remember right now. Not to mention completing four different college books and now diving into my fall books.
--Got to attend my brother's wedding (Isaiah) in June and am excited to return back home for my sister's wedding (Cherie).
--Preached seven sermons at fourteen Sunday services while the remaining five Sunday services were spent listening to awesome sermons delivered by my ministry teammates (Tim, Darrin, Whitney, Jenny, and Hannah).
--My first summer working in a managerial position...and loved it!
--Was visited by more friends and family this summer than all other summers combined! (Joe and Lana, Terry and Carol, Steve and Carolyn, Aaron and Bethany)
I should have one final post next week as I conclude my summer.
Photos of the week are posted. The page link is found on the right column
Have a great week!
My final countdown has begun. By next Wednesday I'll be back in Oregon. I'm ready for this, but there is always a bittersweet prospect to saying goodbye.
Already over this past week, I've said goodbye to over twenty-five of my coworkers and friends have already left back home--six left an hour ago, with another twelve or so leaving before I depart. Though these friendships are for only three months or so, they have such a deep impact upon me. The realization of all the friendships I have built over these past five summers of working in the national parks has brought me to a very real awareness of global reach--from most anywhere in the world now, I know I can visit and will have a friend.
The store has been under some drastic change--as the staff has left, it's made for a lot more work, especially during the Labor Day weekend; however, the rest of the time the store has become quiet, leaving us finding odd-and-end projects to occupy our time. On Monday, the store will be reducing its hours of operation back to an 8-6 schedule, adjusting to the lack of employees and slimming number of visitors.
The other part of saying goodbye is leaving Yellowstone, especially the Old Faithful area. Having worked in this location for now an accumulated eight months and have watched the seasons turn from winter to spring, summer to autumn, there is a piece of this place that seems to haunt me with so many memories. While other national parks have beautiful landscapes and wildlife or unique rocks or mountains, the geysers of Yellowstone have mesmerized me--each has a distinct character with its own rhythm that one acclimates to. By the end of a working season, employees here speak of heading out to see Beehive or Grand Geysers as though they were visiting a neighbor. There is an amount of investment associated with these geysers, as hours upon hours become added while waiting for an eruption or sitting in the afterglow of a geyser's conclusion. The blend of waiting, strolling the boardwalks leisurely, and exhilaration of spewing steam and water creates a pace that is difficult to transition away from. I remember last year seeing the artificial fountains of Beaverton and Portland and finding myself nearly repulsed at the sight, especially when surrounded by strip malls, parking lots, and rows of houses. I am always grateful to return home--I miss the green and the pleasant atmosphere surrounding Newberg. I miss my friends back home and am excited to return, but I'm sure it won't be long before I experience what John Muir wrote: "The mountains are calling and I must respond."
I am so very grateful for my experience of this summer. It has been challenging and with the presence of summer classes and my new semester of school to get out away from the dorms, but I am deeply grateful to be here nevertheless.
Here are some highlights of the summer:
--At least 100 miles of hiking and strolling the boardwalks this summer (compared to a minimum of 180 in previous years).
--142 postcards sent to friends and family during this summer trip...bringing me to a current total of 298 postcards for the year!
--Saw my first red fox and river otters this year
--Visited two new national parks this summer (Glacier and Wind Cave), bringing me to 20 parks now visited.
--My first motorcycle trip (The Grand Circle of Yellowstone: 125 miles)
--My first summer driving my wonderful new Subaru
--Swam in the thermally-warmed Firehole River (the perfect temperature to swim in!)
--Saw Artemesia, Cliff, and Jewel Geysers
--Read multiple leisure books: Invitation to a Journey, a collection of short stories by George McDonald including The Golden Key, and one other title I can't remember right now. Not to mention completing four different college books and now diving into my fall books.
--Got to attend my brother's wedding (Isaiah) in June and am excited to return back home for my sister's wedding (Cherie).
--Preached seven sermons at fourteen Sunday services while the remaining five Sunday services were spent listening to awesome sermons delivered by my ministry teammates (Tim, Darrin, Whitney, Jenny, and Hannah).
--My first summer working in a managerial position...and loved it!
--Was visited by more friends and family this summer than all other summers combined! (Joe and Lana, Terry and Carol, Steve and Carolyn, Aaron and Bethany)
I should have one final post next week as I conclude my summer.
Photos of the week are posted. The page link is found on the right column
Have a great week!
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