Nature, an Ever Consistent Wonderful Reality

It is far too easy these days to become enraptured with our fast paced technological world.  Smart phones, tablets, e-readers, desktops, laptops, apps galore, what is next?  It is a marvel that humanity can still carry on a conversation with one another.  I'm still trying to discover the value behind the "hashtag".  We used to count our friends with our fingers, but now, we just make them our friends with a simple press of a button on Facebook.  I've yet to discover just how to really relate with another person without getting to observe their non verbal language.  The human face is full of subtle nuances.  Just what does it mean to "like" something anyway?

Yesterday my mind swirled with thoughts such as these while riding a chairlift after having completed yet another ski run.  Mt Bachelor was busy and there were long waiting lines to get onto the chair.  It was amazingly quiet in the lift lines.  Most folks were either perusing something on their smart phone or listening to music pounding through tiny earphones.  Just when you think mankind has lost it's mind, someone or something will bubble to the surface that lends hope for all of us.  On one ride, I sat quietly and listened to a young couple gently rib one another.  They were obviously full of young mirthful love.  It was a pleasurable joy to pretend I was not on the chair next to them.

Have you ever wondered what Mother Nature thinks about human chaos?  She probably doesn't even notice it.  She's far too busy creating beauty.  The skiing yesterday was truly gorgeous.  Mt Bachelor had received a massive amount of snow last week and then it misted for a day; after which, cold temperatures set in. The ungroomed icy parts of the mountain glistened in the bright sunshine.  The snow's frozen surface made for fast squirrel footing and the little imps were out in force.  How is it that a squirrel can always seem feisty and exuberant to be alive?  I skied off into the trees to take a leak and just when I was about to write my name in the snow, the occupant of the tree under which I was hiding decided to let me know, "Hey pal, you're not going to do THAT right under my home!  Find another tree to pollute!"  Later in the afternoon, I spent some time skiing Mt Bachelor's legendary Cow's Face run.  Cow's Face is an ungroomed, above treeline run that you can access from the Summit lift.  The sun was warm and the snow was soft.  Corn snow skiing in January!  I skid it three times.  On my second run I stopped, took off my skis, set up a comfortable rock seat, and sat down to enjoy a couple of granola bars and a cool draught of fresh water.  I had barely settled in when a large raven flew in for a chat.  His plumage was marvelous.  Ravens are a large bird that are lucky enough to enjoy long lives.  I wondered what he'd seen during his life?  I wished he could tell me what the Cascade Range looks like while skimming over the tree tops?  What does he think about people?  He just sat there on his rocky perch and watched me watching him.  It was as if his eyes were peering into my soul. I've always loved ravens and it was so special to have one stop by and share a quiet moment.

Just what had made this day so special?  I turned my cell phone off when I was in the parking lot putting on my ski gear.  I never would have noticed the varying textures of the snow surface, pristine skies, rock formations, weather tormented scrub evergreens that try in vain to grow large above the real treeline, or my squirrel and raven friends.  I suggest that all of us merely press the "power off" button once in awhile and open our eyes to the marvelous world we call home.