Al Sabo Life Preserve

Sometimes life has a funny way of intervening when you need it the most. Earlier this week I was delighted to receive a series of messages on Facebook from a long time friend (nearly brother). The messages were interesting since they came to me about 3 in the morning when most people are asleep. Either way, I was excited to read what they contained.

 The first message spoke about the possibility of a visit when he was going to be in town for a wedding and the next spoke about more definite times he would contact me. This was an exciting proposition since I really haven't had much of a creative outlet for my thoughts and for a while. Times such as this typically happen on long hikes, overnight backpacking trips, canoeing trips, and long runs. Lucky for me, right on my door-step was the outlet I needed.

 Have you ever had a friend that you could not talk to or see for weeks or months but are always on the same wavelength with? This friend of mine is someone who has been through thick and thin with me. This is someone I got caught drinking beer with by my grandpa, smoked my first cigar with, first began shaving my head, got my first speeding ticket with (with him holding a 3 legged turtle in the front seat,) among other things. Hell, Drey and I used to sneak into a cement company along a freeway and climb up the various figures to smoke cigars and talk. Drey has always been an older brother I never had. He has always been a person I could talk to when I had nowhere else to turn.

On Saturday morning, 8 miles into a 10 mile run I received a call. Drey was on the other line explaining that he had a time crunch for Sunday but that he really wanted to meet up. I was understandably bummed out about the prospect of less hang out time, but having anytime was better than none. Geeked up, I told Drey I was pumped to see him and that I will be ready whenever he calls me on Sunday.

At about midday Sunday Drey gave me a call to let me know he was on his way to my house. I packed up the dog, got ready and exploded into the garage. It was sunny, windy, and bone chilling cold. Initially I was doubtful of the hike I had been hoping for due to the cold weather but my fears were put at ease when Drey said he was up for whatever. The intention was to go on a 2 to 3 mile hike and just catch up. Our conversation was for from that. Through the course of a 7 mile(3 hr?) hike Drey and I hit a variety of topics. His writing, my hiking and running, my life, his job, and our dreams.

 I have really felt as through this weight-loss and hiking journey I have been on that I was running from something, but maybe, just maybe, I am actually running to something. I am not quite sure what that is. Drey asked me how I would know when I got there, and I replied, "I guess I'll know when I arrive". On the surface this is a very simple way to see things, but through the walk and the reflection of my meditation I did last week, maybe this is the question my mind needs. What am I running towards? Drey always is able to elicit thoughts without much prompting. We walked through the woods, I took Drey to my shelter I built earlier in the summer as an escape from everyday life. We sat and took in the combination of UN-disturbed nature and the wooshing of cars on the freeway a few hundred yards away. Peace.

We hurried back to the car in order to get Drey home on time. Hurriedly I explained I wanted to make him some bulletproof coffee and Drey obliged. Together we sipped on what we called "adult hot chocolate". It had been 8 months since I had last seen Drey but it was as if we spoke just the other day. Having fiends like this is extremely important in ones life. Maybe it is critical to have friends like this. Someone who is impartial and is willing to listen to what you have to say. often times in life we are waiting for the person next to us to stop talking in order to add our thoughts to the conversation. I recommend during the next conversation you have to focus intently on what the person you are talking to has to say. Just listen. Drey is able to do this and the feeling it and peace it gave me was in deniable. Sometimes we need to flood out our thoughts to really see the big picture.

Al Sabo Land Preserve is a place I often run, hike, seek solitude, and take Belle for walks at. Now this place holds a new spot in my head. It was able to clear my mind, ease my soul, focus my brain. Al Sabo Life Preserve will be where I seek the answer to my question, what am I running towards?