Leslie and I went out to Hoffmaster yesterday. She needed to get out and talk. I took her to one of my favorite spots where I go when I need to runaway for awhile. (The other day when I was there I say two fawns and a doe!). We talked and talked and talked until the light of day was gone. I told her not to worry because I know the trail really well. It was dark by the time we got up to leave. We got out to the main trail from the hidden little sand bowl we had been in, when suddenly we heard a loud rustling. We both froze and then relaxed as the sound receded into the surrounding trees. We must have startled a deer, which in turn startled us. You never know when some crazed animal will rush at you. As we left the clearing we were in, I realized just how dark it really was. I don't know what I was thinking. It was really, really dark! We didn't have a flashlight, so we got out our cell phones and the blue light guided us through the woods. Thank God for cell phones! I really don't know what we would have done. There are so many roots and turns in the path. We also talked really loudly to warn any animals that we were coming. The last thing I wanted to do was freak out another deer.

We were almost to the end of the trail and I was sort of thinking in my mind how much farther we had to go (it was almost like being blind even with our cell phones). I thought it was shorter, that we should be there already, and I suddenly lost my bearings. I wondered if we had followed a path that branched to the left (even though I logically knew it couldn't be). I felt the most fear in that moment that I've felt in a long time. It was thrilling! You really don't have to go to far to find adventure!

Leslie and I both agreed this experience brought back memories of ESOAL, a retreat we both did in Texas that was a lot like the navy SEALS. We spent some time wandering through the back 40 in the pitch black. ESOAL was one experience in my life where I could actually taste the fear.

My first week of school went really well. I think I'm going to have a good semester. There won't be too much homework besides projects, fieldwork, and reading. I may be driving out to Allendale five days a week with fieldwork. I was really bummed about that. Gas is expensive!

I saw my girls again this Thursday! Mary could hardly let go of me. They both missed me about as much as I missed them!