Expanding the reach of the Exquisite Corpse had taken a toll. It was stressful to convince artists to play this hide-n-seek game with me. They had to be convinced to activate their subconscious, and to draw torsos, legs, and other bodily features to enliven the corpse. I needed a break. Wanting a rest from my sculpturing and the stress in Chicago, I decided to venture into the wild. I went to Alaska.
The prospect of fly fishing in a remote stream, hiking in the Kenai fjords, and the prospect of seeing a whale enthralled me. Beleaguered by other people’s needs in Chicago. I felt I could get in touch with myself in settings like the Denali National Park, the Matanuska Valley, and Chinitna Bay. I expected to find serenity, not a large, on the prowl brown bear. A would-be “Romeo” driven to find the love of his life.
The sight of him, lurking in the grass 30 feet away from me, in enthusiastic pursuit of another nearby bear, more than surprised me. I stood near him, perplexed, wondering what I should do. Make a wild dash to my lodge? Or was it time to start praying? This was not the Alaska I envisioned from ready glossy guide books. It was amusing to watch this incipient romance play out. But while I adore Nature, I didn’t want to be so close to the paw play.
He looked at me. I feigned a smile. Showing little interest in him, the female skirted away. He looked so alone in the amber-colored field, I felt a bit sorry for him. But once he was sufficiently distracted, I hurried to my lodge. Safety!
It was a fascinating interlude. I had “braved” the wild. I felt exhilarated. Now I was truly ready to plunge into Alaska.The following day I discovered beautiful Dall sheep. I hiked next to them in this field dotted with vibrantly-colored flowers. I fly fished, dreamed of… and caught nothing. No matter what I did, whale spotting, exploring fjords, majestic, snow-capped mountains loomed nearby.
The vastness humbled me. It made me think about my life. I became more attentive to my senses, gained a greater oneness with the universe. Instead of living for the future, or with past regrets and pain, I was more in the present. I was in the “now.” The days still sped by. I would see if my new clarity lasted. Even if it didn’t, I could talk about meeting that bear. I had been ‘unshakeable…so ready to….’Yes I was. Ready for my next adventure.
