Day 33: Finding balance on Jim’s bridge…

“Go to the truth beyond the mind. Love is the bridge.”

 -Stephen Levine

 

 

Today I woke up not feeling well at all.  I was fighting a cold, fatigue and the day to day stresses that we all face.  I made the decision that I was going to let my body rest.  So I took it easy.  I slept in, rested, drank fluids, worked a little in the office.  I took care of some of my daily obligations and when the day was all said and done, there I was with not having contributed much to my mind or spirit.

I decided that in spite of how I felt, I was in need of a new view.  But the usual walk around the neighborhood was not going to suffice today.  So, I decided to try a new route.  I hopped in my car and drove to the other side of town.  I had seen this park before, but never had time to take a gander at what the view was really like.

I pulled in to Dorostkar Park and sort of made a motion with my mouth when trying to pronounce the name and it was a complete fail.  I stepped out of the car and quickly grabbed my sweater. It was breezy, cool, overcast and it felt like a Fall evening.   I could hear the rushing water of the Truckee River just a little distance away.   I took a deep breath in of fresh air but still noticed the cold symptoms that flirted with my nose and throat.  And so, with the headache gone, I headed for the walking trail.

I had a choice at this point; do I take the paved road or the nature trail?  I chose the more interesting one, the nature trail.  The trail was sandy and narrow as the thick foliage draped into the path’s open space.  The willow bushes were ever abundant as were the fuchsia wild roses that dotted the trail.  At about every 10 ft. or so, there was an opening to the left of an animal trail that had been made to access the Truckee River.  I wondered what type of animal could create these trails so close together. Before I could take the time to figure it out something else captured my attention.

I took one of the short animal trails down to the water’s edge and the birds were dive bombing the water everywhere, eating the bugs that thrive in this rare lush area in the high desert.  I knew there was plenty to feast on, as I was swatting the bugs away with my hands in a motion that looked like windshield wipers.  Alas, they didn’t bother me; I just wasn’t hungry and tried desperately to keep them out of my mouth!

I turned and headed back onto the nature trail and followed the path.  I started to notice that the trees all had chicken wire around them and before I knew it, I had stopped dead in my tracks as I could not go any further.  An aspen tree had fallen across the path.  I was puzzled until I looked at the base and saw very quickly how this tree had come to fall.  The teeth marks and wood shavings were textbook and as I looked around there were other tree stumps that had the same markings.  A beaver!  A very busy beaver at that!  He was nowhere to be found but his hard work lay in my path.  I carefully climbed over and through the branches to get to the other side and just kept walking.

The walk took me to a bridge. There was a boulder at the start of the bridge with a plaque that read:  James C. Howard Bridge.  “Jim loved Nevada and we loved him!”  -The Howard-Dulac-Ramsey-Trainor Families.

It made me wonder about this man, Jim.  What adventures he had gone on and what stories he had told that let the world know how much he loved this land.  I wondered if Jim frequented this area and how often he crossed this bridge. It wasn’t a new span.  As I walked over the bridge I tried hard to envision what his thoughts were and how often he would come here… did he stand and look over?  Did he take pictures?  Did he see the beavers that chewed through that baby aspen tree?  Did he walk this bridge every day?  Did he know every stone and crack along the paths??  I wondered what made this man be loved by so many.  Will I enjoy this bridge as much as he did?

I stopped for a time and took some pics and just enjoyed the view.  It was indeed a good river view.  The only thing I could hear was the water rushing down the river.  Life seemed to fade into the background and I found myself mesmerized by the water flowing over the rocks.  I caught a glimpse of a mother duck and her many babies, there were more birds than I could count, and I don’t even remember hearing or feeling myself breathe.  It just was….

As I turned and walked away, I wondered about Jim and all the visits he made to the bridge and other Nevada special destinations. I thought about all the views he reveled in.  I thought about the trials and tribulations he probably contemplated and the resolutions to problems that he found on this bridge and through his adventures.  I wondered, is this a man of courage or was he plagued with problems and doubts.  Then I had this realization that whatever it was about the bridge, the view, the animals, or just the sound of the waters below, he was indeed courageous to admit that perhaps his spirit was most centered when he was taking in nature or just enjoying this view from above.   I needed to see that sign today.  I needed to understand that when our spirit is out of balance there are places that we can go to, that just help bring us back to center.

I woke up this morning feeling ill from a cold; I was able to do as much as I could and had to admit that my body needed rest and that I am not some super hero that can just keep going.   Just as our physical bodies can get out of alignment, so can our spirit.  What’s important is knowing the things, places, sights and sounds that help bring us back to center.  As I have said, I do not know who “Jim” is, but I understand today why he loved the outdoors and perhaps that bridge.  The question that cannot be ignored is, “If I hadn’t seen that plaque, would I have taken the time to think about the beauty along that walk and over that bridge and what it had contributed to one person’s life?”  So, with that thought, I say “Thank you” to the people close to Jim who wanted the world to know that one man loved Nevada, the beauty and solace it provided.  You made me stop, enjoy the view, center myself and contemplate a man I never knew.  All thanks to a plaque that was placed at the base of a bridge, crossing a river.

Amazed at how words, a view and a man I never knew could have such an affect….  Wondering what tomorrow will bring…