National Parks

I was sitting in the dentist office today, planning a trip to Point Reyes National Seashore in my head, when I realized... due to the government shutdown the park is closed.

Rats.

Then I remembered how many people I have heard complain about how unfair it is that the park isn't open for them to visit. Sure, it's a bummer. But I am more sad that the people who work there are furloughed, not knowing when they will get a paycheck again. I think of all the employees I met when I visited Yosemite National Park this summer, they too are dealing with this uncertainty.
In the recent rough economy, many people don't have reserves to weather this storm, and others just didn't plan for it.

Across our nation, there are families with jobs that are worried about how they will pay to keep a roof over their children's heads and food in their bellies.

I am worried for all those people; I am worried for our nation.

But I have faith that we will pull through. We are the children, although many generations removed, of those who left governments they didn't agree with — from many nationalities — and set out on this wild continent to make a new home.

We Americans are not perfect, we have made mistakes, done bad things and good. But, when it comes down to it, when you strip away our creature comforts and back us in a corner, we have a unique blend of true-grit-scrappy-ness, and we will make it through even these dark times.

Here are some photos I took this summer at Yosemite.

When I look at them, I can't help but think about how uncertain it must have been for the pioneers who had to travel this land, not knowing what they will find, not having any security of a grocery store to shop at, a doctor to call when sick, or even a secure place to sleep at night. Nothing was guaranteed.

It steadies my heart to remember that and gives me a firm foundation to place hope on.

Half Dome. ©Teresa Shumaker. 

Vernal and Nevada Falls. ©Teresa Shumaker. 

Mirror Lake. ©Teresa Shumaker.