Candy and Character.

I'm awake again.

  I readjust my sleeping position, at least as much as one can in a mummy bag, and try to go back to sleep. My condensating breath is making mini-icicles and blowing back at me with every exhale.

Makes me wonder how much of my own CO2 I've breathed all night.

  The snick/snack of my camera on a timelapse filters weakly through the bivy material as I replay the evening and night's events: A well-executed  sunset timelapse, which I overexposed perfectly to allow for the darkening sun, check. Two letters written to friends, check. Bivy and second timelapse locations found, check check. Matches for stove, woopse. Two sticks rubbed together, check. Two rocks and glancing blows, check. One flashlight battery and a twisty-tie, check. One trip back to the truck and a fortunate matchbook discovery, check check. One delicious meal of shimp Ramen and leftover sausage, check.

  And I smile. I smile because I know I could have spent the evening watching old TV shows on Netflix and updating facebook. I smile because instead of spending my time on mind candy at the dollar store, I've followed through with a goal and invested my time in my vocation, an adventure and my friends.

  Now I like some TV shows, and facebook is a great tool, but somewhere along the line, I've let them consume so much of my life. Time is like money, only more valuable, and I'd rather invest it in real things, and only buy candy one in awhile.

  My eyes droop, but I know I'll be up again in an hour or so with a sore back.

And I couldn't be happier.


Caleb W.