🌅A magical day, part 2: The clouds followed us all afternoon, from the lavender farm to the farmer’s market, to the BBQ stand, to the general store, and for well over a mile up into the sky as we gradually scaled the world’s largest dormant volcano, Haleakala. The eery mist blanketed the road and shrouded the ever-steeper drop-offs on the side of the road until finally, we breached the seemingly everlasting haze…just to park. We promptly descended right back down the volcano side for a pre-sunset hike. The hike was as spectacular as everything else had been, with rainbows dotting the ragged and warped terrain, and great conversation to match the views.
And then it was time for the main event, the actual goal of the day, the famed sunset atop Maui’s highest point.
Recently, I realized every sunset is at least a little magnificent. Ending every day with a naturally beautiful moment to reflect and find closure isn’t something to be taken for granted.
That sunset, amid all my life shit, at that place and with that group of people, that was uniquely magnificent. Processing✅reflecting✅feeling✅
Something else my mom and I liked to do a lot was dance, so it was only natural that as my new friends and I drove down the volcano into the evolving night, we pulled off to the side a few times to dance above the clouds.
It was just one day—it was a magical day🥲 #summercamp2024
We won the cup! One week ago, the lads made history. For the first time in Denver’s 47-year history in the NBA, they were the undisputed best. I witnessed 24 games in this magical season. Our Nugs went 20-4, including 6-0 in the playoffs, clinching it at home last Monday night. @cjthompson4 and I knew it was our year and showing up every other night at Ball was a dream come true. When I discovered the Nuggets as a miserable Knicks fan in 2008, I never imagined I’d move to Denver, become a season ticket holder, and witness so much history for an under-recognized franchise. What a team, what an organization, what a fanbase, what a season, what a celebration. See you in the fall for the banner ceremony 📈 Thank you to everyone who joined me at games and supported the Nugs this season on my behalf 🫡
Story time:
My grandpa, “Poppop,” as I call him, was born on July 4, 1928. The most important person in my life, he passed away in August of 2013.
Five years ago, on July 4, 2014, on his first birthday after his death, I was camping in the mountains in Colorado. I had called on Poppop for strength, and thought of him every day since he passed.
As I made it to my intended campsite (I was solo), the sky broke open, and a torrential rain poured down on me. Again, I called on my Poppop for strength. I felt a surge of energy, and quickly developed a plan for the sturdiest tarp setup I had built.
Through the storm, we prevailed.
The next morning, I sat at my site under the then-cleared sky, hung up on the intense emotion of the storm.
A peculiar black and white butterfly floated onto the ground near where I sat.
It was unique; butterflies were uncommon in my expedition in general, and I had never seen one in that color pattern.
I acknowledged its beauty and continued with my day.
The butterfly continued to loft around my campsite, hour after hour, landing and sitting near me. Rather, it seemed to be sitting WITH me.
Given the circumstances surrounding the trip, I could feel nothing other than the presence of Poppop in this butterfly.
For the remainder of that day, and the next, until I left the campsite, the butterfly made frequent visits, as if to check on me.
I knew then that Poppop was still with me.
And I know he still is.
Happy birthday Poppop ❤️
Thanks for everything you’ve done for me, and continue to do.
Things to be grateful for:
@bucees
Ball 🏀 (it is life, after all)
Swimming 🏊🏼♂️
Friendship 🤝
The American industrial spirit 🚂 (I like trains)
Swimming more 🦦
Huckleberries
My buddy’s dog Leo #summercamp2024
🦦🏝️ Grateful for the beauty and culture of Maui, my new goggles, @sandcloud , not getting eaten by a shark, and eating fruit. Slide 5: strawberry guavas (sweet) off the branch in Iao Valley. Slide 6: rangpur lime (not sweet at all) on Haleakala. #summercamp2024
🪻A magical day, part 1: My mom passed away earlier this year, in February. My solo trip to Hawaii was largely curated to process the loss and to reconnect with her, where possible. One of our favorite things to do together was go to the lavender farm by the beach in New York every summer, so it was serendipitous that Maui is home to a lavender farm. It was equally serendipitous that I made delightful friends who didn’t mind us taking this seemingly random detour on our big adventure day. It was a uniquely beautiful experience, as hoped 🥲. As we drove up the mountainside, we entered a cloud that followed us for most of the day, creating a comfortable mist. Walking through the farm and the gardens nearby felt eerily surreal—where the clouds broke, you could see down the mountain to both coasts of Maui’s hourglass shape. After wandering around the farm, laughing, and smelling flowers, we drove down the mountain to a farmer’s market, where the most wholesome travel picture ever was taken (slide 2). What was already a magical day had not yet remotely reached its peak. #summercamp2024
Rocky Mountain Hiiiiiiiiiiiigh 🏔️🤠When I was a young boy I was mighty afraid of horses. Last weekend I rode a horse into a valley, across creeks, alongside a cliff, and over a plateau. Yee freaking haw. Thanks for showing me horses are friends @liviho . Shoutout to Feather and Rodeo
