Perspective... What's truly important?

Dave,

You may recall that in my ramblings about our 1998 trip, which you referred to as Sandy's Mission, in the essays and articles section of the alumni website, I described our visit to Listening Point. I quoted Larry Whitmore saying, "for a bunch of old Charlie Guides, this is like visiting the Sistine Chapel." Well, we just returned from 2 weeks in Italy, and we did indeed visit the Sistine Chapel. It was amazing; a dream come true. My first thoughts were profound and of a religious nature, and then I thought of Larry's comment at Listening Point. I even mentioned Larry's comment to my companions. Awestruck as I was, I realized how important those past times at the Base were to have come to mind while standing in the Sistine Chapel. It was the day we visited Saint Peters Basilica, the Pieta, and the Vatican Museum. We spent four days in Tuscany touring vineyards, driving on mountain roads and a few dirt roads way off the beaten track. Every scene was a masterpiece. It was fall, so the trees displayed their most radiant colors as living vegetation reached the end of the annual cycle of life. One of my college majors was art, and this journey through my old art history books was incredible. I frequently reflected on how fortunate we were to make such trips and live our dreams. However, one must keep things in perspective. I tell you that this experience, great as it was, would only rank a close second place to those years I spent at the base in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. You have to keep what is truly important in perspective. Two of my most treasured books are signed copies of books by Sigurd F. Olson. When my oldest daughter Gretta was about three, she "re-signed" those books, in orange Crayola, right over Sig's signature. My first thought was, "the books are ruined." And then I realized that someday those two books would be even more valuable to me with two very treasured signatures. I am confident that Sig would agree with me.