Wandering and Thinking and Hiking

The summer of 2019 began a journey of curiosity, grief,

persistence and in all honesty, fear. On February 26,

2015, two loving and distinguished gentlemen left this

earth; my father, Rev. Joseph Nickell and my former

father-in-law, Dr. Gibbs Prevost. The loss of these two,

and on the same day, began my travels of selfdiscovery,

intrigue, and a deeper sense of loss and hope.

Not only did my father die, but my mother suffered a

stroke which resulted in greater memory loss and a

reliance on caretakers. At my father's funeral, delayed

a month due to my mother's requirement to complete

physical rehabilitation services, Carolyn Blevins

responded with these words, "You've had a hell of a ride."

She was not wrong. My mother continued to decline and

on July 25, 2019, she died after residing in a memory

care unit for only two months.

Watching Mary Nickell, a determined, hospitable and

stubborn woman, decline for four years could be

described as a revelatory moment. I inherited my

mother's determination and independent spirit, and

that spirit was telling me to move onward. I sold my

house, put everything in storage, quit my job, but NOT

my profession, and decided to work in national parks;

Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons so far.

10

As the events of 2020's covid pandemic loomed large the

level of suffering was not lost on me. My isolation took

place in the frozen tundra of the Grand Tetons, and

worried for my family, as we were 2000 miles apart.

Winter thawed the earth but covid was alive and well,

and unfortunately thriving and spreading. Isolation

continued, resulting in loss of lives, confusion,

inability to have personal interactions, cancellation of

sentinel events, mental and physical fatigue.

Being a part of nature was my way to cope with the

isolation and sadness surrounding my spirit. The

pictures I had taken were ways to save those uplifting

moments and thought the beauty might be helpful for

others. Facebook and Instagram were my medium for

sharing and the responses were overwhelming. Social

media influence was not my goal. Sending pictures

that might elicit peace, comfort and solace was my

purpose.

Two people dear to my heart and soul, Rev. Mary Beth

Duke and Rev. Sharon Youngs, asked when my

pictures would be published in a meditation book. Their

urgings, David Tullock and Parson's Porch are the

catalyst for these meditations.

My travels have been varied; alone, accompanied by

family and friends or with travelers along the way. I am

grateful for good health, and for now good knees. The

opportunity in front of me is not taken for granted.