What a whirlwind couple of weeks here at the Review!
End of a Season, End of an Era?
As I talked about in an earlier life update post, my time as a seasonal Park Ranger in Yosemite came to an end in January. It was the biggest blessing I have ever been given, spending the best part of a year in the idyllic town of Wawona just inside Yosemite’s southern boundary. The community there, both with coworkers and residents, was incredible and a cool blend of people from all backgrounds coming to find a home in the woods. The slower pace of life was refreshing; trading common modern luxuries like air conditioning and consistent Internet connection for swimming in a river and hanging outside and talking around a firepit.
Ranger life during peak season at a crown jewel park? Chaotic. It is not a job done for the money or peace, I will tell you that! Working the entrance station was mentally taxing during the Summer, as the public struggled to grapple with a reservation system that is still being tweaked and adjusted and vented some understandable and some not understandable frustration at my colleagues and myself. I watched as a brutal heat wave wore out some coworkers, and the threat of wildfires kept us all on our toes. Yosemite Valley becomes a Disney World-esque experience, as vacationers understandably flock to one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I tried to find some hidden gems and write about them in my Yosemite post, and will continue to add to it. It isn’t always easy to break out of my shell, but I did – meeting more people, going on adventures, and spending hot nights cooling off in the river with not a lot of clothing.
Fall was a time to settle down, the crowds and excitement and exhaustion of Summer retreating into a quieter Autumn. Saying goodbyes nearly every weekend to friends who became family was tough, and moments were cherished just a little bit more. Figuring out the next step became the name of the game, and for a time I thought I had achieved my goal of becoming a permanent ranger with the National Park Service. I wasn’t going to give up that cool hat yet!
That all changed on January 20th, as a new government brought sudden, sweeping changes and a crackdown on both hiring and current employees government-wide, and in the process my offer to return was lost. There is plenty more to say about the current situation, but that is a post for another day. For now, I am trying to figure out what the immediate and long-term future now hold.
Gratitude
If by chance this proves to be the end of my journey at Yosemite, I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have lived in such a hallowed place. The place oozes a vibrancy and life that I have yet to find elsewhere, and I miss it dearly already. The places I saw, the adventures I had, and the people I met will be happy memories that I will carry the rest of my life.
Upcoming Posts
An assortment of posts are on deck here at the Review! A recent rewatch prompted a review of CBS’ The Amazing Race; the first season will be reviewed this week and with season 2&3 to follow the next couple of weeks. Look out for two opinion pieces on the state of the country (What is Wrong With Us? / How Can We Make Things Better?), another game review and a Ranger’s take on top Yosemite hikes in the next two weeks.
Until next time, much love to everyone!
