The Vignettes

Walk with me down the trail.

For two years, we lived in a tent trailer while traveling the American West. To document the kind of adventure I’d never have again, I told our stories through weekly vignettes.

We’ve left the RV life for now, but still continue to recount adventure’s ups and downs, our relationship with the outdoors, the wonderful disaster of parenting, and the struggle to catch lightening in the creative bottle.

Beth Downing 4/9/24 Beth Downing 4/9/24

Irregular Shadows

I imagine this is similar to being in what the Celts called a “thin place.” Where the veil between this world and others is smallest. Just like moments of portent, there’s an extra bit of resonance both deep in my chest and prickling on the surface of my skin.

Beth Downing 1/23/24 Beth Downing 1/23/24

First Time, But Up

All the town lights twinkled and sparked. I turned to start up again, towards the line of headlamps. Up the steepest part. Up the throat of the mountain that I get to call home.

Beth Downing 11/6/23 Beth Downing 11/6/23

Four Signs at Thukla Pass

At Thukla Pass in Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal, treekers crest a hill strung with prayer flags. This is not unusual. Nor or the rock cairns or the stacked stone fences that wouldn't be out of place in the Irish countryside.

Beth Downing 5/23/23 Beth Downing 5/23/23

Let Fly

Sometimes, we can just turn around and let go.

Beth Downing 3/27/23 Beth Downing 3/27/23

Oh, The Light

The foggy clouds from the valley have marched up to here. I am inside of them, these clouds that have touched the pine trees and the deeply fallen untracked snow and the weasels darting between the tree trunks and the icicles hanging from the craggy rocks.