What now?

Drury asked the question "what now?" Good question... what in the world am I doing out here in Utah and where am I going from here? The answer is, I have no clue.

Story of my summer...
Drove out to Utah with my mom less than a week after I returned home from the PCT hike with Drury. Had no clue what my job was going to be. I only knew I was going to do worship services somewhere in the park and work somewhere in Zion Lodge.

Driving out west has to be one of my top 5 favorite things to do ever. Mom and I listened to "A Walk in the Woods" on cd (Drury suggested this on the trail... wow, what a cool book), but usually had to pause it cause we kept zoning out and forgetting to watch the scenery, or the road. We stayed in hotels the whole way cause mom wants nothing but the best... always "two queen beds for the two queens" she kept saying. And, a pool and hot tub were another requirement. Nothing like living in luxury, especially after the hike. Arrived in Zion and mom stayed in my dorm room for the week as I began training to work at the front desk, greeting visitors and checking them into the hotel. Mom went alittle crazy with the camara during the days, taking pictures of every corner of the park she could walk to from the shuttle. I couldn't wait till I could finally go out and explore.

During the next two months I worked at the lodge and held worship services at the lodge and campgrounds for park visitors with my friends Eric and Dale. Eric and Dale worked at the lodge too and they weren't very happy when I shared that I got a job with the park service and would be moving down the canyon and wouldn't really see them as much anymore.

In August, I began my job as a "park ranger" (if you can call someone that who collects fees and wears the smokey the bear hat). All day long I have people taking pictures and videos of me. I can't count how many childhood scrapbooks I will be a part of, standing next to little kids who aspire to be real park rangers. I don't want to disappoint them by telling them I only take money at the entrance gates.

Every week after the worship services, Eric and Dale and I would go hiking. Though I've pretty much stayed in Utah all summer, I feel I've seen the world. I've hiked Observation Point, Angel's Landing (in the dark and in the light), Hidden Canyon, Emerald Pools, Chinle Trail and Coalpits Wash, the East Rim Trail, rapelled in the Keyhole, through-hiked The Narrows, hiked around Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Hop Valley, and some trail from Kolob through Hop Valley (which involved some backpacking no one at IWU would be proud of... I swear I only took a small backpack, but if you could only have seen Eric and Dale...). There are other small trails that I can't think of right now. Such amazing hiking here. I just recently did my first real rappelling hike where I kicked a guy in the face when I thought I was going to fall. Got a chance to visit Vegas when my parents came out and I'll be returning this weekend when my friend Shawna comes out to visit. Got to fly to Pennsylvania for a family reunion and flew to Chicago for Becky and Jared's wedding (kinda a last minute decision, but it was great to see everyone again). I don't ever feel like I'm sitting still.

After three months, I feel I have just begun to explore Zion. The canyon is right outside of a small hippie community of Springdale. It's somewhat of a rebellion toward all that is Utah. The streets are lined with fun little restaurants and art galleries and outdoor adventure shops. There's only one Mormon church and the one bar in town doesn't even enforce the required appetizer with alcohol purchase. In every respect, Sprindale is it's own world, and it likes it that way.

I was just sitting at the town park this morning and met a stereotypical Sprindaler. He drove a Toyota Tacoma (if you do not drive this truck, well, it's best you just leave town), walked his dog (every guy must own a dog for picking up chicks with it's cute tricks), he had long hair, hawaian shirt, and sandals. We talked religion, because it's just inevitable that you will discuss religious philosophies in Springdale because everything beyond Mormonism is "pretty sweet." (Actually I'm sitting in a coffee shop right now and the barristas are discussing God, rather loud...) His story doesn't get any better... He broke down in Zion with a bunch of his buddies years ago, went hitchhiking for alittle over a year, came back, tried to go travel the country again, but was called back again to Zion. He can't get away. Now he grows organic tomatos for a living. Everyone here seems to have just "broken down" down here. Everyone seems to be on a permanant vacation. It's so laid back. Really cool, odd people.

So what am I doing here and where am I going?
I think I really like it here, which kind of scares me. I really miss people back home, but I can just imagine the knots in my stomach when I get back to Ohio and crave to be surrounded by the red rocks that have become somewhat of a security blanket for me. It looks like I'll be here a little longer than expected. I was hired originally to work August and September. But we've lost a couple people and more may be leaving to help with Hurricane relief, so they've asked if I can stay longer. Of course, I accepted. I have nothing planned. So it looks like I'll be returning to Ohio late October or beginning of November. What then? I have a feeling it will all fall together like this summer has.

Ok, that was a really long answer to the question... and it wasn't an answer...
If anyone has any ideas for what I can do with myself, let me know. I'll be out of the job soon...