We got to go to St. George, Utah this weekend for a wedding. It was really great. We had the chance to visit family, climbed and hiked around slot canyons, and swam in the hotel pool. I actually think the kids expect every vacation to involve some sort of water sport. They love the water and splashing around; ironically, none of them know how to swim. We are making a point of putting the kids in swimming lessons this summer at the local aquatics center. We're overdue. Anyway, the drive is about seven hours one way and having a book on tape really helps pass the time.
Mike checked this book out from the library over a month ago. I think he thought he would have more time to listen to books while working on the basement, but things are crazy as usual and time just didn't seem to cooperate. The trip to St. George was a good opportunity. I'm glad I was able to listen to it too. The book was read by the author, which really brought out the cadence of his voice.
The book is a collection of thoughts, memories, and experiences the author compiled during one of his seasons working as a wildfire lookout in the mountains in Arizona. He gets really philosophical but openly acknowledges elements of his hypocrisy (a thing old H.D. Thoreau failed to do in Walden.) I can't say I agree with everything he says but I did enjoy it and agreed with a lot of it.
As some of you might know, Mike is a firefighter. He was even a regular wildland firefighter for a few years and goes out on deployments at least once every fire season. It was really cool to see that world from a the lookout's perspective. I see people who build huge expensive homes in the urban interface and all I can think is how crazy these people must be for doing that and leaving no defensible space in case of wildfire. Don't get me wrong, my ideal home is actually out in the rural mountains somewhere, but there is a huge part of me that doesn't want anyone to do any sort of developing in the wild places I love. There needs to be a balance there. I'm not really sure where it is, but I'm sure it's there.
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