Some people say this town doesn't look good in snow, you don't care....i know.
(America) We rolled down ventura highway to a place where the days are longer and the nights are stronger than moonshine. With a monster in head to lift us up and then pull us down, it doesnt affect us, We made it anyway. We arrived on a moonlight drive through the short, tall canyon and found a dark spot to hide. We slept. I woke up, got out of bed dragged a hat across my head. Looking up, i noticed i was standing in the early light complemented by red stone and holes. We slithered through the canyon like we were riding a seven mile long serpant. At the end, waiting for the sun, was two tall golden arches. Inviting us in for the morning feast. After we finished, freedom fell on us like a piano. We had no authority to question and all the choices that came upon us were ours to choose. Yet, the decisions we made were the same ones that our higher authorities would have made, had they been there. With respect, we learned.
This trip to the desert had been made many times before in previous years with wise, experienced and well respected peers. Through those years, traditions had been built, good memories and feelings were had and we all had someone we could depend on that would take full responsibility and care for us but would still restrict us from little things that we all wanted and they limited our freedom.
And now, six wilderness children, all in a similar situation, were free to choose where to roam, eat, sleep, and play. We were like a small group of new existentialists, barely known. Other than the spirit of the old indian guardian that protected us, we were alone. We were ready to question authority...or make it. SO WHY WERE WE SO CONSISTENT IN THE WAY THAT WE PLAYED? Nobody to hold us back, yet we were trained to take the traditional road, Just like our ancestors, we faced hell's revenge. We rode the ancient fins and things, night and day, along a seven-mile rim. We ran into an old enemy, yet treated him like a brother before it all happened. We were able to keep a balance between fun and destruction.
All these years we have been building up an unnecessary wall. And on this test of independence, we tore the wall down. Though a small test, truly expected, it's strange to ride down such a narrow, yellow brick path, then to be released, No one tried to jump off. Then again, the bricks that were laid were solid and strange. Whats wrong with strange?
Once you get plenty of opportunities to make your own decisions, you realize you never were a slave. It was all a learning process. Listen.
As far as the rest of the journey goes...The greatest place on earth for me, continued to grow in my mind, as well as the traditional activities and memories that were made. The warm colors of the earth is medicine for my soul. As was the music that was feeding our thoughts and expanding our minds. Movement out of the ordinary is healthy and inflames temperament.
The trip was unusually fun, no regrets.
-Parker Lichfield
