Yukon Gold

It was the summer of 2015 and we took our kids on a long road trip, camping all along the way from Michigan to Alaska, heading west by way of the northern United States, up the Icefields Parkway and merging on the Alaskan Highway, which wound us all through the wildness of Alaska. Every turn in the road had my jaw hanging down to my belly. Each day simply could not get any more beautiful than the day before. Except that it always did.

The constant marvel of it was so immense and impossible it was hard to know if I was dreaming or awake. Hard to know if my bottom lip was trembling from a chill in the air or from holding back tears of wonder.

Eventually we made our way back to Michigan through the stunning provinces of Canada. Every province was undeniable stunning, but the Yukon stole the breath right out of my body. The beauty... the sparse human population... the sheer immensity... the clarity of everything - water, wind, forest & mountain air (all of which seemed to cleanse me to).

It left me speechless. It sharpened my senses and evoked a wonder so deep I couldn’t help but to exhale gratitude from all the inhalation of it.

That we mere mortals get to share a planet with majesty such as this leaves me trembling. Humbled. Dumbstruck and on my knees.

This is the remarkable ordinary.

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