Wandering and Thinking and Hiking

The summer of 2019 began a journey of curiosity, grief,
persistence and in all honesty, fear. On February 26,
2015, two loving and distinguished gentlemen left this
earth; my father, Rev. Joseph Nickell and my former
father-in-law, Dr. Gibbs Prevost. The loss of these two,
and on the same day, began my travels of selfdiscovery,
intrigue, and a deeper sense of loss and hope.

Not only did my father die, but my mother suffered a
stroke which resulted in greater memory loss and a
reliance on caretakers. At my father's funeral, delayed
a month due to my mother's requirement to complete
physical rehabilitation services, Carolyn Blevins
responded with these words, "You've had a hell of a ride."
She was not wrong. My mother continued to decline and
on July 25, 2019, she died after residing in a memory
care unit for only two months.

Watching Mary Nickell, a determined, hospitable and
stubborn woman, decline for four years could be
described as a revelatory moment. I inherited my
mother's determination and independent spirit, and
that spirit was telling me to move onward. I sold my
house, put everything in storage, quit my job, but NOT
my profession, and decided to work in national parks;
Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons so far.
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As the events of 2020's covid pandemic loomed large the
level of suffering was not lost on me. My isolation took
place in the frozen tundra of the Grand Tetons, and
worried for my family, as we were 2000 miles apart.
Winter thawed the earth but covid was alive and well,
and unfortunately thriving and spreading. Isolation
continued, resulting in loss of lives, confusion,
inability to have personal interactions, cancellation of
sentinel events, mental and physical fatigue.
Being a part of nature was my way to cope with the
isolation and sadness surrounding my spirit. The
pictures I had taken were ways to save those uplifting
moments and thought the beauty might be helpful for
others. Facebook and Instagram were my medium for
sharing and the responses were overwhelming. Social
media influence was not my goal. Sending pictures
that might elicit peace, comfort and solace was my
purpose.

Two people dear to my heart and soul, Rev. Mary Beth
Duke and Rev. Sharon Youngs, asked when my
pictures would be published in a meditation book. Their
urgings, David Tullock and Parson's Porch are the
catalyst for these meditations.

My travels have been varied; alone, accompanied by
family and friends or with travelers along the way. I am
grateful for good health, and for now good knees. The
opportunity in front of me is not taken for granted.