Dan’s Delights 3/31-4/6
April 10, 2025This week is posted a few days late because I am hobbling around everywhere I go. In the airport, I was using my trekking poles as a pseudo-cane to get around. Walking past the counters, struggling up stairs, I really was noticing that everyone was staring at me. My guess is they were having a hard time comprehending the fact that an otherwise healthy outward looking young man was very immobile. I took their stares with a smile realizing, there are probably many people that feel this everyday of their lives.
This sort of active empathy was further explored as I went through TSA and my bag was tagged for further inspection. As i hobbled over to the nice worker, she informed me that I couldn’t bring my hiking poles through security. Interesting, I thought, as this was not something that was told to me on my inbound flight and my bag was packed the same way. I asked her if there was anyway I could take them with me as I arrived like this, and after looking around she said a little under her breath, “take them, I don’t want to see you on the news”.
My guess is she saw me hobbling towards her to retrieve my bag and figured there was a chance I’d sue for discrimination against people with disabilities, but in reality, I would’ve just sucked it up and penguined my way to the furthest end of the terminal. Yet, the idea of what other people go through on a day to day basis stuck in my head, and I couldn’t shake how it must feel to be in their shoes, being judged for something that is out of their control. Even as I boarded the plane, a lovely flight attendant told me “I’m surprised they let you through security with those poles.” To which I said the same thing. And then I could see her expression change as I used the seat backs and pole to help navigate the walkway to my seat.
Nobody was trying to be malicious in their comments, they were mearly working inside the parameters of their job, but I’m left pondering after all of this, the feeling these subtle comments invoked in me. The weird line between anger, frustration, and sadness that arose, because it was as if there was no curiosity to understand, just an effort to enforce the policies. Policies that seem so arbitrary because of how they are inconsistently enforced.
I know I’m not perfect at it by any means, but in situations where I encounter people different from me, be it personality, capabilities, outlooks, I try to start by leading with understanding. Leading with an open, mind about who is before me and asking questions to uncover what has lead to this moment. Because for me, the events that led to my hobble were voluntary, but that is not the case for everyone. The problem is, we can only get there with vulnerability, honesty, and trust that the others won’t attack our vulnerable selves. And that is difficult to find. Yet that won’t stop me from trying. Which leads me to my first delight of the week.
While working in a coffee shop in Portland, I had the most wonderful of times chatting with my table neighbor. We shared stories of our twenties. The heartbreak, the stupidity, and what it took to make use finally realize, maybe we don’t have it all figured out and through it all, there was vulnerability to share some of our most vulnerable and tender hearted moments of pain. When we parted ways the lady behind us chimed in to say, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen two strangers open up so readily like that.” When I told her “That’s all I think most people want in human connection.” She nodded with understanding, but I could tell this practice may be a bit out of reach for her.
I got to hang out with one of my friends Marissa and hear more about her lovely adventures and what she is planning for her summer of mountaineering. We also got to hang up some of the photos she’s been waiting to hang up and since one frame was lacking a photo I went ahead and filled in some lovely art for her to enjoy in the meantime. :)
I got to hang out with another dear friend and outdoor school chaos buddy, Laura at her home in Portland. She and her housemates create such a peaceful environment that is so easy to cozy up inside of. We shared conversations about education, herbalism, and even a few deep musings of life. As always ended with some silence out amidst the stars. One of the loveliest people I know out here in the PNW it’s so fun to see all the lives she continues to enrich. Also, lookout cause her garden will be BLOOMING with beauty soon enough, and I can say I was just one of many hands that helped in that process.
Look at this dinosaur I saw on the ground :)
And this text that Jay sent me that got me all laughing in a tizzy :)
Then I flew off to Colorado and started my journey of running R2R2R. That will take a lot more to write about but just look at all these mountains that I got to see from my plane as we left Portland. Always a beauty to see the big 4 from the sky!
While in Denver I got to hang out with a new and oh so lovely person Julia! She’s the housemate of my dear friend Megan and we got to explore around some of the local parks playing rock and hole, riding on slides, and finding out that she is the Queen of Cheeseman. Undisputed no stops. It was a riot seeing the two of us roll about the park just being chaotic goons living our best lives and talking about anything and everything under the snow that seemed to be falling all around us but not on us, a wild moment! She will soon be embarking on some really amazing journeys so while it may be a while til we get to adventure again I’m so stoked to hear about all the delights she has on her travels :) To all the people that get to meet her, y’all some lucky folks.
I got to see some lovely art around the Santa Fe arts district in Denver as they prepped for first Friday art walk.
And then it was time to start getting the gang together for the big run. To Hans, Sara, Elise, and Harrison. There’s no way I could’ve done this alone. Thanks for being the best motivators, support systems, and absolute GOOBERS to do a heinous run with. Til the next time, keep drinking your Lactaid!
As always if you want to share some delights I would love to hear about them! You can do so here. And until next week (which will be oh so soon), here is some lovely music for you.
Much Love to All of you!
Dan