The Mountains

Have you ever felt "drawn" to something so much that you could feel the ache in your bones?
I know this may sound stupid, but I have been pre-occupied with one thought now for several weeks, and this week it is getting bad. That one thought?

The Mountains.

You know, memory is a powerful thing. The body can retain a visual memory, but it can also retain audible, olfactory and sensory memories.
Every time I start concentrating on ANYTHING, I start "hearing", "feeling" and "smelling" the mountains.
I hear birds, feel the cool air, smell the evergreens and douglas firs.
It is such an overwhelmingly calm experience that I find I want to stay there...which can be a bit of a problem since I have a normal life.

I wish that I could make others understand what physiological changes take place when I am in the mountains.
I never really realized that there was a physical change until a couple of years ago.

The Craftsman had an opportunity to head up to a camp facility in the mountains for a weekend "retreat". I rode up with Dan and Mary, so I was sitting in the back seat just watching the scenery. As we climbed in altitude, the horizon gradually became greener, the shade became darker and the air became cooler. And I felt myself become calmer. I became increasingly aware that my heartbeat was slowing. My arms and legs began to relax. I could feel tension releasing it's grip.
I was so amazed I could feel this, could actually watch it happening.

I love to camp.
I love to camp in cooler weather (the heat makes me miserable). I love to be in the mountains. I love the sounds of birds singing, a creek rushing by. The feel of a breeze blowing through the trees.
I love getting up in the morning and having trouble starting a fire because your fingers are numb with cold.
I love sitting and talking and playing board and card games with friends.
I love scooching up next to the camp fire in the afternoon with a blanket wrapped around me.
I love singing songs around a camp fire, and I love looking at a mountain night sky filled with stars.

I thank God that He has given us this most incredible gift of nature to enjoy, and I plan on doing just that this weekend.