It was a brilliantly sunny day after a streak of torrential rain. We were gasping at each corner as the ocean revealed itself along highway 101 down the Oregon coast. Today was the day to meet the giant redwood trees. I was nervous!! I've dreamed of seeing them for so long.
And then we passed through into California. David got grumpy. We didn't stop in Crescent city. We didn't stop at Jedediah State park. We didn't stop. The trees were just down the side roads, I was certain, towering over us. I'm missing them!
Finally we stopped to take a hike because Zoe was getting cabin fever in her car seat- up the LBJ trail. There were giant redwoods there.
We walked down the trail in silence while Zoe squealed and laughed with delight in her carrier. I cried. It really was selfish to take this trip to see these trees. Now was my chance and they just weren't as big as I had imagined they'd be. David was grumpy and I just wanted him to be happy...
David noticed I was crying and we hugged and apologized in the middle of the trail. We kept going, David trying to convince me that these trees really were awesome and really really huge.
In the parking lot after, Zoe was unbelievably happy, playing with her Daddy, smiling and shrieking and laughing.
It was incredibly disappointing, my first encounter with the giant Redwoods. But I learnt something from them. I really learnt- down to my gut- that I'd rather be with my family: David and Zoe, than anywhere else. Even the biggest trees on earth. Nothing beats the feeling of love between us. So maybe we had to take a foolish trip when we have no money to really figure it out...Now that I have these relationships in my life, the really hard and challenging and constant and divine, trees kind of disappoint. I just really love connecting with people. Even when they're fussy travelers, worriers and grumps.
Our wedding rings are carved to look like tree bark, and now I'm extra thankful they are. A reminder of what the trees taught me: I'm so blessed with a loving family.
(When I told David this after we'd driven a while more, we both sat crying in the Bigfoot museum parking lot, hickville california...Now one of my favourite memories of the trip so far)
