I'm taking some time out from my normal postings because I want to remind every one about something. Something that each and every American owns. That is our National Parks, Monuments, Grasslands, Forests
and other areas maintained by our National Park Service. These areas have been set aside for each and every one of you. Not just the Americans, but for each and every human on the planet to come and experience that natural wonder that Mother Earth has to offer. We often get so caught up in our day to day lives, whether that's running the kids to the next soccer practice, or trying to close the next deal, or even just trying to pay the bills, that we often forget to take time for ourselves. That is often the single largest mistake we can ever make. Getting back in touch with nature is important for each and every one of us.
Ms Cocktail and I try to get out as often as possible to nature and to our national parks in particular. Over Labor Day weekend, we spent time in Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In years past, we've taken trips to Glacier, Yellowstone and the numerous parks in Utah as well as others scattered around America. I have thousands of photos, each telling a little piece of the story. (more photos after the jump) Unfortunately, I can only share a couple with you in the space here, but perhaps the story of untateve will help illustrate what I'm talking about.
I frequent a message board for fantasy football called The Huddle. I've been there since it first opened up over 12 years ago and have gotten to know some of the regulars through time. While there are several forums, mostly dedicated to fantasy football and the NFL, there are couple of specialized ones not related to football and one that is specifically for non-football topics called the Tailgate. Occasionally, some of us will actually meet in the real world, especially if we've known each other on-line for a while. Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to meet two of the original denizen's of The Huddle, untateve and THEKING. It just so happened that we were all in the area of the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut and were able to meet up there for an evening. I dragged my brother-in-law along because I really had no idea what I wa getting into, you know, meeting random people from the Internet and all.
Well, come to find out, both THEKING and untateve are exceptionally nice people and we had an enjoyable time. During our conversation, it came out that untateve was looking for a place to vacation the following summer. It was only a year before that Ms Cocktail and I had been out to Glacier National Park and were still enthalled by the whole experience, so I suggested that he consider Glacier as his vacation destination. When I returned home, I posted up some pictures of our trip (two of which you see here). After some deliberation, untateve decided that Glacier would be an intersting trip and that he and family would do it.
Upon return, untateve couldn't say enough great things about the trip he and his family took. I believe that things like "best trip of my life" were common phrases used in conjunction with his vacation by both him and Mrs untateve. Not only did he get to spend some quality time with his family, they got to experience one of what I feel is the most incredible places in the entire National Park system. I know of no one that has ever been to our national parks that hasn't returned in some small way changed by the experience.
Yeah, I know, this all sounds like an incredibly lame commercial for the National Park Service. Well, it is. Until you experince these places you really cannot grasp the magnitude of the beauty, the granduer, the total awesomeness out there. Words completely fail me when I try to pass on some of my feelings when it comes to these places. The only thing I know for sure is that I would return to these places over and over again.
So take some time to get to know America. Not the cut, up cheesy, laugh track version that we see on television, but the America that has been put aside for our enjoyment and enrichment. Those places that speak to something greater inside all of us. These places are set aside for everyone, please take advantage of the wonders that nature has given us.
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