{"product_id":"wandering-and-thinking-and-hiking-9781088125069","title":"Wandering and Thinking and Hiking","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe summer of 2019 began a journey of curiosity, grief, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epersistence and in all honesty, fear. On February 26, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e2015, two loving and distinguished gentlemen left this\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eearth; my father, Rev. Joseph Nickell and my former\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003efather-in-law, Dr. Gibbs Prevost. The loss of these two, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand on the same day, began my travels of selfdiscovery, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eintrigue, and a deeper sense of loss and hope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot only did my father die, but my mother suffered a\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003estroke which resulted in greater memory loss and a\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ereliance on caretakers. At my father's funeral, delayed\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ea month due to my mother's requirement to complete\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ephysical rehabilitation services, Carolyn Blevins\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eresponded with these words, \"You've had a hell of a ride.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe was not wrong. My mother continued to decline and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eon July 25, 2019, she died after residing in a memory\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecare unit for only two months.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWatching Mary Nickell, a determined, hospitable and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003estubborn woman, decline for four years could be\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003edescribed as a revelatory moment. I inherited my\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emother's determination and independent spirit, and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethat spirit was telling me to move onward. I sold my\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehouse, put everything in storage, quit my job, but NOT\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emy profession, and decided to work in national parks;\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYellowstone and the Grand Tetons so far.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the events of 2020's covid pandemic loomed large the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003elevel of suffering was not lost on me. My isolation took\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eplace in the frozen tundra of the Grand Tetons, and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eworried for my family, as we were 2000 miles apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWinter thawed the earth but covid was alive and well, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand unfortunately thriving and spreading. Isolation\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003econtinued, resulting in loss of lives, confusion, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003einability to have personal interactions, cancellation of\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esentinel events, mental and physical fatigue.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeing a part of nature was my way to cope with the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eisolation and sadness surrounding my spirit. The\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epictures I had taken were ways to save those uplifting\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emoments and thought the beauty might be helpful for\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eothers. Facebook and Instagram were my medium for\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esharing and the responses were overwhelming. Social\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emedia influence was not my goal. Sending pictures\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethat might elicit peace, comfort and solace was my\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epurpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo people dear to my heart and soul, Rev. Mary Beth\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuke and Rev. Sharon Youngs, asked when my\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epictures would be published in a meditation book. Their\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eurgings, David Tullock and Parson's Porch are the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecatalyst for these meditations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy travels have been varied; alone, accompanied by\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003efamily and friends or with travelers along the way. I am\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003egrateful for good health, and for now good knees. The\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eopportunity in front of me is not taken for granted.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Parson's Porch","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50488118542610,"sku":"9781088125069","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_2082dca6-835c-4e3c-b95c-336779f5b103.jpg?v=1730468298","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/wandering-and-thinking-and-hiking-9781088125069","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}