Today is the start of a new adventure for me. “What kind of adventure, Nate?” you may ask. Well my friends, I am nearly 800 miles away from my wife and pets working in Dinosaur National Monument on the Utah/Colorado border. “Why is this an adventure?” some of my more naive friends or lesser known acquaintances may ask. Well, I’ll tell you why: I haven’t been away from my wife for more than a week in the entire time we’ve been married, and most definitely not since I nearly died in 2005. It’s an interesting adventure, to say the least. For the past few weeks I have asked myself if this was the right decision. On the drive up I questioned myself, and thought about turning back. When I dropped my wife off at the airport this afternoon I questioned myself about if this was the right decision. But here I am, in my little one room apartment, seven miles north of Jensen, Utah (where the heck is Jensen, Utah???) writing to you; my family, neighbors, acquaintances, strangers, friends, Romans, Countrymen, etc. etc. etc. (you get the point, don’t you?). I am ready to take the next step on my adventure and fulfill my lifelong dream to become a National Park (Monument, whatever) Ranger!
(Hold for applause . . .1 . . . 2 . . .3)
The one thing that bothers me right now is the silence. I am sure I will get used to it, but I miss the sound of the dog barking at the doorbell, the cat meowing for a scritch on the ear, and even the way Kaia likes to complain about the crazy whack-jobs who call her museum to ask about mannequins and cider. No, I don’t get that here, I get silence. Loud, deafening, screaming SILENCE!
But I digress. This is my first, in what I hope to be many posts. I’ll post pictures and stories here, and I’ll even create a separate site for my book so some of you can get a peak (but only if you are special enough to deserve it). So come back often, and send me a message now and again!