I love to listen to theMan singing as he plays his guitar and harmonica. Even when his embouchure grows weak from a lack of carving out time to cultivate his musical talents, the sweet sound of his soulful efforts is simply delightful to hear.
And… he even lets me sing along.
When your kids are little, you have to keep a close eye on them, watching their every move to be sure that they aren’t putting poisonous items into their mouths, playing with sharp objects, or hanging off the side a cliff (or the top of the jungle gym). As they get older, you loosen up your grip. They go to school, have sleepovers at their friend’s houses, and you are no longer able to keep a watchful eye on them at every moment. Although you might like to.
It’s a little scary at times. I’ve already told you how unsettled I get when my loved ones are out and about when a siren is blaring in the distance. I go crazy on the inside while trying to stay calm as I send a little message to them saying, “Just checking in. Where are you at?”
So, after YaYa pointed to the people exploring the rocks in front of one of the water falls at Yosemite, I gave him permission to check it out – thinking I’d be able to call him back whenever I was done taking pictures with my camera. Little did I know that the entire area he’d asked to explore was marked as “dangerous,” or that he would not stay where I could see him — or call him back.
I scrambled across the rocks in the effort to call him back, panic began setting in. I lost my footing numerous times while getting closer and closer to the falls, and still not able to see my precious baby. A string of what-ifs passed through my mind. And tears began streaming down my cheers as I hoped for the best but imagined the worst. I heard my own voice promising Tom to take good care of the kids.
We arrived in the Yosemite valley floor about 10 am. Right off the bat, we located a sliver of a water fall off to the left, snapped a photo and headed off for a day of exploration. Later in the day we’d return to observe the spectacular light show that happens at sunset only a handful of days out of the year.
We toddled around, happy to have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty in the valley which we have not spent a lot of time taking in as we always seem to be on a journey into backcountry when we are in Yosemite. What a treat it was. Snow, waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, beautiful trees, and huge rock sides chiseled with characteristic splendor.
As it got later in the day, we thought we’d check out the other viewing point of Horsetail Falls. Using my Yosemite Photo Guide (iPhoto app), we drove the 1.7 miles from Yosemite Lodge. There was no waterfall insight and it was difficult to find the picnic area as the one lane of the road was coned off and cars were urging us ahead. We’d later find out that those cones were closing off the street for parking. That was THE SPOT.
We decided to slowly make our way back to other viewing point, which I’d later discover was NOT the other viewing point. Additionally, that little sliver of a waterfall I was spying was not Horsetail Falls. So where was this mystery falls? A couple perched on a tree stump with their cameras pointed towards Bridalveil Falls told us it was where half of the street was coned off for the “event.”
So we got back in theMan’s truck and drove further. Given that it was later, I directed him to park at the first coned spot we could find. If it was at the Southside View, that would be where we’d attempt the photo and if it was at Rowell’s View, we’d go there. The biggest challenge would be finding a spot this late in the game.
It was 1.5 hours until sunset and there were already a mass of photographers pointing their cameras at El Capitan. I joined the bunch on the Southside…then asked where the falls were for I could see nothing. I was told to look the left of the wide tree on top, just over the dark bulge in the side of the rock ahead. There are two pointy trees to the right and, if you look just below the little one, there is a spot where there is water flowing and spring mist into the air (apparently).
I could see it through the camera of another photographer’s camera but never through mine. *sigh* Either I would need an upgrade in equipment or this waterfall would need a whole lot more water for me to get a shot of it. Nevertheless, it was fun hanging out with everyone and watching the sunset on the spot where, if there was a lot of water, the waterfall would look like lava flowing. Indeed, it was a lovely sight.
I told theMan that I didn’t want to make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day. While I enjoy giving and receive tokens of appreciation, I don’t feel that what this “hallmark holiday” advocates is what love is all about. Rather than flowers and chocolates, I’d rather spend time with the one I love, receive a compliment or two, or sing along with him as he plays his guitar and harmonica.
Ever since the first of the year, theMan and I have been trying to make it out to the coast to walk along the ocean’s edge at sunset. After weeks of talking about it, we finally made it.