Sensory Overload

It was a Saturday, now almost two weeks ago, when I woke up early for no reason, looked out my window, and saw that the storm had finally passed, leaving low lying clouds in the valley and blue skies up above. I didn't have work for hours, and no plans of anything that morning, but couldn't stay in bed any longer and feel okay about it. I got up, with not a clue of what to do, and texted my friend over breakfast.

Me: I hate/love the hopelss/anxious feeling of an overwhelmingly beautiful day and the inability to do anything worthwhile enough to capture it.

Friend: I know! It holds so much potential and no matter what you do you're not taking full advantage of it or doing it justice as it slips through your fingers.

Me: Yeah I hate it.

Friend: But you love it too. Isn't that part of what makes it so beautiful - that it's fleeting? Thank God for time or we might not appreciate anything.

I worked outside for a few hours then spent the full evening giving tours. I took my camera along and tried to capture at least a portion of what surrounded me.

The view of the Healy Range from Dry Creek, one of the stops on our Otto Lake Tour

The Healy Valley from atop an overlook on our tour, Autumn in August


That would be Otto Lake in the bottom right, and those would be pretty clouds everywhere else.


Enjoying the sunset on the final tour of the day from atop another one of our overlooks

That it's fleeting is what amplifies the feelings of beauty and the need to seize it. The bright fall colors that threaten to leave just as quick as they came. The looming end to the season that scatters friends and relationships to different parts of the world. The final few days of a well paying job and a warm bed and the comfort that comes after residing in a place for a few months. Denali is sure doing a good job at talking me into coming back next summer. We'll see. By the way, everyone's invited.