Outside Magazine – Kaitlin Kenney

Outside Magazine – Kaitlin Kenney

Even while napping, Kaitlin was smiling. Picture from Wild Rockies Field Institute Outside Magazine, the “Live Bravely” publication, has just uploaded an article about Kaitlin Kenney entitled Lost in the Grand Canyon. Which proves one thing to me: Kaitlin is still alive in the hearts of thousands of people who have… Read More

Crisis-tainment

Crisis-tainment

I am not watching the news. Not following #manhunt tweets. Or #bostonbombs. I did have on NPR for a while, but turned it off when some reporter questioned why Obama had not yet spoke today, three days after two bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon. “People need to hear from… Read More

Who Killed the Gun Bill?

Yesterday, April 17th, 2013, a minority of Senators killed a bill which would have required more extensive background checks before the purchase of a gun. The bill needed 60 votes to pass. It only received 54. The bill was crafted by a republican and democrat, both of them gun owners…. Read More

If There are Angels – A Story for the Oregonian

If There are Angels – A Story for the Oregonian

N. Rakha, Colorado River Mile 134.5. Tapeats Creek. On Sunday, April 14th, the Oregonian will publish an article I wrote about Kaitlin Kenny, the young woman who drowned in the Colorado River while on a 29-day river trip though the Grand Canyon. I first wrote about Kaitlin on January 16th,… Read More

This Porous World

This Porous World

 My experiences related to the canyon have been on the order of a spiritual awakening which has left me as porous as the canyon’s sedimentary strata, where rain water cleaves and carves and emerges later as beautiful clear springs. I take power naps. Total shutdowns that last twenty minutes—max. I… Read More

Remember to Live – Kaitlin Kenney

Remember to Live – Kaitlin Kenney

“It’s a steep learning curve out here in the Grand Canyon. The elements are fast teachers that can be very unforgiving.” Kaitlin Kenney, Day 8-River Journal Newspapers reported this week that the body retrieved recently from the Colorado River was Kaitlin Kenney. She was found by rafters 30 miles downstream… Read More

What I Think About While Sitting on a Beach in Maui

What I Think About While Sitting on a Beach in Maui

My favorite picture of Hawaii can be found on Google Maps. I don’t know how they did it, but somehow the satellite image shows the underwater topography of that island chain, and the story that image tells is amazing. While most people consider Hawaii to be “paradise,” looked at from a larger perspective we… Read More

American Winter – American Shame

211. Remember that number. Imprint it in your mind like 411, or 911. It should come that easy. What is it? Apparently it is A Great American Secret. You would think it wouldn’t be, given that millions of people around the country have gotten help from calling that number. Still, not many… Read More

Remember Candid Camera?

I am just dropping this here for you guys to enjoy. I did. The second bit in particular….. It reminds me of the time I switched the New York Time stock pages on my husband, taking out the current day’s report, and replacing it with the previous year’s. Instead of… Read More