Our Journey Begins
On Wednesday morning, we will be on our way. First, we’ll take a couple days to travel to my favorite place, Pentwater, Michigan. There, we’ll spend two weeks with family. This is our time to be with our family, with our grown children and other family members all the way down to our great niece and nephew.
When we leave Michigan, for the first time ever, we won’t head home. Rather, we’ll take 15 days to journey to the Grand Canyon. There, we’ll volunteer as camp hosts for two and a half months. I feel like we’ve moved heaven and earth for this possibility.
A couple of years ago, we took a cruise to Alaska. This was a long held hope and dream of mine, and I could hardly believe we’d made it. I kept thinking something would prevent us from reaching this personal frontier. Once on the cruise ship, headed north, I had to pinch myself to know for sure, this was really happening.
I feel the same way about volunteering at the Grand Canyon. To be and live in this iconic National Park almost seems too great of a thing that could happen to me. Even now, I hope I’m not jinxing myself – as we are not there yet.
We applied for this volunteer position back in September. Amanda, the NPS Park ranger for the volunteers, contacted us expressing interest and wanting to set up an interview.
Then the government shutdown happened.
I knew we wouldn’t hear anything for a while. However, we did receive an email from Amanda saying she would contact us after the shutdown ended. That shutdown now seems like a distant memory, doesn’t it?
Long story short, we eventually interviewed and were selected. This was a surprise because I thought we’d be eliminated since the date range for the position was five months, and because of our Michigan tradition, we were only available for the second half. We’re not giving up Pentwater, even for the Grand Canyon.
But this didn’t knock us out. Instead, out of 70 applicants, we were some of the ones chosen. We got the lucky ticket in this lottery.
We had more paperwork to do, including some online forms and creating a resume for both Dan and I. Then, they requested for Dan to get fingerprinted. Not digital fingerprints, like we did for LBJ National Historical Park. Rather, real ink fingerprints with an authorized agency. We found an agency 30 minutes away from where we were in Big Cypress. Then we had to take a picture of the prints and various forms and email that in through a protected server. Once all was approved, we then had to FedEx everything to … somewhere. I don’t even remember where anymore. The FedEx was another 30 minutes away from where we were in Big Cypress.
It puzzled us that they only asked Dan to do this. I should have asked about why they didn’t ask me.
However, they did ask me. Except I didn’t know as it was sent to an incorrect email. So, back to the ink fingerprint joint, email extravaganza, and finally to the busy FedEx office on Marco Island. This process from being accepted to getting this all done took about four months, keeping in mind that each 30 minute trip was a week or more given our volunteer work schedule in the Preserve. Factor in communication time, and it’s just about four months.
Finally, we were all set up and approved!
Then we found out Dan has prostate cancer.
A scheduled biopsy turns into two unscheduled stints in the hospital. Once through that debacle, a consultation. Then a decision to “wait and watch”, but a later PSA test turns up the heat, and he decides for surgery. Another consultation, all the while waiting, wondering, will we still get to go?
The surgeon, based on the results of Dan’s genetic testing of the cancer cells, confirms, it is just fine for us to wait until November, after our Grand Canyon expedition. So, then we ask, can we wait until March or April? You know, Dan really doesn’t like cold weather. The surgeon says…”Well, you could…”, but then wavers a bit, throwing cold water on the idea. So we count our blessings and stick with the November schedule.
This is good with us. We had been in the process of setting up a gig with an Arizona State Park, but once we learned of the cancer diagnosis, we bowed out. We wanted to give the coordinator plenty of time to find other volunteers.
But here we are. Ready to go. Fingers crossed and God willing.
I can’t help but think when I look out over that canyon for the first time and try to take in its immense beauty and splendor, I’ll stand there with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. It will be a moment when I thank God for getting us there, giving us this opportunity, and amazing us with the glory of His creation. It will all be worth it. Don’t you think? Of this, I have no doubt.
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