Emotional Dichotomy:Trees On Fire

This weekend my brother Mason, Colin, and I went camping in Northern Indiana. Fall is in its full spread right now, and we enjoyed perfect weather and good food. Some of the pictures are below and on Flickr.

We went kayaking Sunday morning when mom arrived at the park, and we found our plan to be a bit more ambitious in reality than it seemed on the map. Everyone fought through some muscle soreness though. I love the sense of accomplishment you get when you complete something hard. When you push your limits.

I never knew I could feel such opposite emotions. In between strokes, I watched the gleam of the water and the drops fall from my paddle, and I thought about Alison. It was so beautiful out there, and I was really happy to be out and a part of it all. I had a happiness in my heart that didn't compete with my profound sadness while I thought about Ali. I am struck by the definity of her departure. It's permanence. I miss her. But all of my sadness can be in there right next to my smiles. The smiles are coming naturally. I find them in the breezes, in falling leaves, and in camp fires.