July 1, 2016 – Hungry Horse, Montana

You’d think that I would be in a better mood.

I certainly should be. The sun is setting, and I’m drifting with Miri in a kayak on the Hungry Horse reservoir. My favorite spot. But I’m agitated, and she calls me on it. My reasons are myriad – staying late at work due to the local farmer’s market that we participate in, people yelling at each other on the beach when we launched the kayak, a nearby boat cranking terrible music, and some jet skis revving their noisy engines.

How can I possibly relax and enjoy nature with all of this going on?

“I think I may be sliding farther away from society…” I tell her. Or maybe I’m becoming more nature-based as a person? Whatever it is, I feel like these annoyances are weighing on me more so now than they have in the past.

Miri talks me into a better mood. She typically has that effect on me. Just look where you are, Nick.

Breathe.

Relax.

We take one more minute before leaving to take in the beauty of the mountains, the water, the sun.

The calm.

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.” – Thomas Paine