An update from the Bros

Somewhere in Spain. Or Portugal. Or France. Dude... where are you now?

While I muster up the courage to tackle my next post, I thought I'd throw in a few words for the family. They've been pretty busy lately.

Ryan is currently out in Europe, on a solo backpacking and surfing trip across France, Portugal, and Spain. He's been there for a couple weeks now, his final destination being the Mediterannean coastal town of Màlaga (the birthplace of Pablo Picasso). There he will be staying with a host family and taking Spanish classes for 5-6 weeks. Seems like a pretty good gig.

the beauties of a self-timed photog

While he left his computer and cellphone at home, he did bring a camera, which has got a pretty good self-timer. In true Ryan fashion, he has taken a series of candid snapshots plotting his journeys. Most of them are impromptu photographs of him smirking in the foreground of spectacular scenery and historical landmarks. To say I'm jealous is a severe understatement. I've attached some photos here.

He always seems to meet people as well. He's been bouncing around from hostel to hostel and from several bed and breakfasts and couches. It seems he's really making the most of his trip, and I'm proud to see how much fun he has had exploring by himself.

He also sent me some comments in response to my last post under the subject "travelingadventuresincrazyplacesidontevenknow." They were great, and very true - here's an excerpt:

...It is not about how the world presents itself to us, it is how we present the world to ourselves.  Everyday we are in a position to see the world under a new light, from a new perspective.  If you restrict yourself to one perspective in any given circumstance, then you will never find good in the world.  Everything is fair, everything happens like it should, everything is what we wish it to turn out to be.  If you focus on the nothingness of the matter, nothing will come from it.  Will you sit under the roof on a rainy day, or will you stand on the highest hill and let the rain fall.  It is you who decides what is good and what is bad, but you must be willing to embrace it so you can truly experience it.  Do not hold that nothing can come out of this situation. Find a way, find many ways to discover something in this.  Everything exists for a reason, find that reason.

And don't only think the whole time you're there. The best way to think is to go explore for a while and not think about anything, and then you sit down and the next minute you know you're actually thinking. If you're thinking about thinking, it doesn't sound good, it has no real depth to it. 

When I wake up, it always takes me a few minutes to realize where I am, it's awesome... the other night I woke up on a kitchen floor... dedication to the journey, although I do honestly miss home sometimes...

I quickly replied, telling him that he may actually be Leibniz - "Everything exists for a reason, find that reason."

The people you meet. Walking across Europe with his 4 legged companion

The words (and criticism) resonate well. First, I probably do think too much sometimes. I kind of dug my own grave when I named the blog "Musings."

Second, it really is true - so much of life is what you make of it, and what you aspire it to become. While things won't always go the way you expect them to, many of those diversions and challenges exist for a reason. Normally they take you in directions and along paths you may never have ventured upon if you hadn't been held up or rerouted somewhere in the first place. And normally this is a pretty good thing.

Anyway, Ryan, if you're reading this, keep living it up bro. It sounds like an awesome time. For all of us, his advice should give the reminder and the power to introduce a little more spontaneity and inspiration to all our lives. To me, and definitely to Ryan, the thrill of spontaneity and new inspiration is what life is all about.



Anyway, the parents are back in Denver, and things seem to be going pretty well out there as well. I talk to them over the phone about once a week. A phone call from here to any land-line in the United States is about 5 shillings per minute, which isn't so bad.

Thumbs-up. Like a champ. Trent before surgery

Trent is out in Colorado as well, but he's spending the next couple weeks on crutches. He had surgery on his knee yesterday to fix his Meniscus Root Avulsion, essentially a torn meniscus. He was tripped a few months ago in hockey and fell into the boards in an odd way. For now, the doctor says he'll be on twigs for at least another month. Keep your head up buddy - chicks dig a torn meniscus. You're a total badass Trent.

He's also been sending me some email updates - it's hilarious to see his mind beginning to transition from that of a lowly middle schooler to a rebellious high schooler. Sentences like this seem to advertise a maturing teenage mind:

Life out here has been normal as usual, [but] being an only child you don't get to do what you want. I went to the batting cages today, I was complete shit.

Keep smiling Trent, you'll be alright :)

For all of you waking up on the kitchen floor - may you rest in peace. Enjoy your Friday's and weekends.

For now, I'm headed off to talk with the Director of Fisheries. Expect another update very soon.

Mr. Scott

"...dedication to the journey, although I do honestly miss home sometimes..."