For my husband, on our 34th anniversary, 2/14/22
For our anniversary adventure, we went to San Francisco this year, and for February, the weekend was spring time warm with the almond trees and cherry blossoms pushed out of dormant buds to bloom in a confused riot of color. I talked you into taking a one-day tour to Yosemite with 10 other people and a tour guide named Phil who had different playlists for different parts of our journey. He has your musical taste and you were the self appointed door concierge so you loved the familiar talk around music and entertainment from the 70s, as well as the responsibility to count us in every time we stopped.
What I loved was the expanse of forest and mountain, the open winding road up to and into the Yosemite valley and the way the air changed and the snow held on to its hold of the mountain. I was enamored of the open meadow away from the chilly shadows of the pine trees. Enamored of the way the meadow captured the unobstructed views of mountains of granite pushing up into blue blue sky: El Capitan “El Cap” and Half Dome. Especially the “ooh and ahh” of the Tunnel View and the rushing waters of Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls.
I liked the way the snow melt rivers and waterfalls captured your lens. How the waters called to you at each stop we made. Mostly I appreciated the non obligation of staring at a small map on my phone to navigate our coming and going. I appreciated how we could just link shoulders and arms on the long ride to and from.
I found an archive of the artist Marcel Duchampʻs work, notes, etc. and I found this image above. It is not of Yosemite, but the beauty of Yosemite is captured in every personʻs camera, both amateur and professional. The beauty of this adventure is not on film, but this picture captures for me our adventure, and the beauty of being on the road, heading to the mountains holding your hand and feeling the familiar weight of your hand on mine. I feel like after 34 years, you will understand the connection. Thank you.
The Mo'o Project 