I don’t have a bucket list per se. There are lots of things I want to do before I die, but I have not sat down and written out a list. That just seems so dark. However, I do keep a bucket list of sorts in my head that mostly involves all the places I want to visit.
Scotland, the Galapagos, Italy, Banff, Norway, Iceland and all the National Parks are just a few of the places on my list. I really want to see everything. I love to travel.
My desire to see it all causes some vacation tension between my husband and me. He likes to revisit places he really enjoyed. I, on the other hand, never want to go to the same place twice. There is just too much out there to see! We compromise on this point as best we can. If we return to a place, as long as I see something new, I’m usually happy.
On a recent trip to California, I was able to mark an item off of my mental bucket list. I have dreamed about this place for years: Muir Woods, located just north of San Francisco.
My level of excitement as we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and left the freeway for the narrow, twisty roads leading to Muir Woods was very high. I have read about Muir Woods and listened to podcasts on the subject, but the reality of it was even more breathtaking than I had hoped.
Renowned naturalist, John Muir, for whom the National Landmark is named, said of this forest, “This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.” As someone who loves trees greatly, I couldn’t agree more. As I walked the path through these ancient woods, I cried numerous times at the beauty of it all.
Walking through these woods was one of the most relaxing and peaceful moments of my life. However, it was not without peril. You see, my daughter is allergic to evergreen trees and here I was taking her to a forest filled with nothing but evergreens—some of the largest in the world.
I made her cover as much of her body as possible and then gave her Benadryl as a preventative measure. Yes, I realize this was probably not my best parenting moment, but she survived without one bump or hive. Victory! She also loved the woods. It was a great family hike we will never forget.
We got there early and the crowds were not huge. Most folks honored the quiet signs posted on the trails. Listening to the birds and streams while surrounded by these mammoth trees was a life-changing experience for me. I just never wanted to leave. Oh, and the smell! My god, it smelled amazing!
As we finished our hike and I said goodbye to my new tree friends, I felt more relaxed and happier than I have in a long while. To quote Muir once more, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
I’m not sure what I was seeking, but I found peace, beauty and a heart full of love for this amazing place. Sharing it with the people I love most made for a truly perfect day.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
