I Wonder

“We pass through this world but once.” – Stephen Jay Gould

Currently I am reading a book about the journey of Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean. There is so much about their journey that is surprising. From the politics to the real reason behind it. The book is based on the journal that Lewis kept while he was on his journey. From the different animals he encountered to the Native Americans he met along the way. The book gives a picture of the experience of the first Americans from the United States as they saw the west coast for the first time. Things that you and I are very familiar with, they were first people to see it. I wonder how they felt when they saw a buffalo for the first time. Maybe the same way I felt seeing an exotic animal at the zoo. It might have been different because it’s not like they saw it in a book or on social media first. They more than likely had heard stories of it, but not up close. That is what I have enjoyed about this book so far. Seeing how they felt when they encountered a new discovery.

Last summer, I was able to visit a place called the last frontier. Alaska is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. We encountered so many amazing things as we cruised through the Inside Passage. We saw whales, bald eagles, sea otters, and starfish out in the wild. Every part of the experience was amazing. One amazing place that visited in Alaska was Skagway. I started researching what to do in Skagway. The White Pass Scenic Railway was the top recommendation. We signed up to do it. The weather was perfect that day. We were treated to some of the most incredible views I had ever seen. I took over 200 photos while we were on the train. I spent most of my time standing on the platform enjoying the amazing views. As I stared out into the open country, I felt a sense of wonder. Is it the same as the gold miners who came here back in the late 1800’s?