For this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Amy invites us to share photos taken at home. I’m one of those wayward drifters stranded by the coronavirus. I’m really far from home right now. And I miss it.
When this emergency first started to unfold, I made the decision to tough it out by camping, relatively isolated, in the desert. That’s what I usually do in March and April anyway. I obviously didn’t realize then just how bad things were going to get.
When all the public lands and campgrounds closed, I thought about going home to Alaska. I did more than think about it. I made 2 false starts, desperate runs north, panicked, ruled by a desperate heart.
But home is nearly 4,000 miles away. The road home would take me through dozens of very remote towns and villages, far from any medical care. I felt it would be irresponsible and selfish to go home and possibly expose all those vulnerable people, a modern day Typhoid Mary, to the virus. Shelter in place means shelter in place, right? Not drive thousands of miles.
A friend’s daughter offered me a place in her home to shelter in place. I am eternally grateful for the kindness of strangers. I really am. Words cannot express.
But this is in no way anything like home. Home is McCarthy, in the heart of the wilderness, and it’s been home for 25 years, no matter how far I might ramble. I am sheltering in place in Las Vegas, the antithesis of McCarthy. So no, I am not staying at home.
So for this post, you don’t get pictures of where I’m at. You get the view from my front porch. Home. In McCarthy. It’s the most beautiful place in the universe. It’s where my heart is. And I miss it.
(All these photos were taken from either my front porch or my upstairs window)
Not drive thousands of miles, you are right, These photos are breathtaking. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
I love the view of your front porch.
It’s a special place. Thanks, Amy.
WOWWW. Beautiful beautiful! That full-width banner shot is a stunner! I wish I could make all mine like that. What WordPress theme are you using that gives you that format?
Thanks, John. I’m using Twenty Seventeen. I customized it a little, opting for a black background to better set off the photography.
Nice to see your heart’s home. I understand the love of a place of beauty that embraces the people and activities that make it your home. It lives forever truly in your heart.
I know that you understand and also have a heart’s home that is somewhat out of reach. We’re both lucky to have found our homes, even if we can’t be there now. Many people never do.
Your place in the world is so amazingly beautiful – takes my breath away. Hopefully you can drive home when everything has calmed down – I truly can imagine how much you miss it. But then – people are amazing too, we help each other out and stand by each other in difficult times.
Yes, I am so thankful for the amazing people in my life, from the loved ones to the total strangers.
I fully understand the way you feel. I left my remote cabin in Northern Alaska in 2016 because of my heart and today the year I was to return a virus closes the border and I must remain separated from my daughter and my home in a wilderness touched by the hand of God.
Oh Dianne, I feel for you. What a dramatic environment you live in. Places like that work their way into you, don’t they and become the very wairua (spirit) of you. I hope you get home soon.
Thanks, Wendy. Since you also live close to nature, I know you can relate.
Lovely testament to HOME.
Dianne, I am so sad that your post was just featured in the “Have you seen this” section because this post is amazing. Your home views are incredible as is your photography. And your story about being so far from home, stuck for now, but grateful for the kindness of strangers, is a story begging to be told. Here’s hoping you get many visits for this one. Just beautiful
Wow, Tina, I’m flattered! Thank you. I hope so, too!
Such a special place, and person. Some of my best dinner invitations ever. You made some delicious spring rolls for Scott and I.
May you get back home soon!
Thanks, Jesse. I’m no longer in Vegas, at least. I’m camping remote for a couple of weeks to wait in case any of the jobs I applied for pan out (no work in MXY this summer) and to make sure I didn’t pick up the virus at the grocery store in Vegas or anything. I think I’m OK because I think I had the nasty bug in January, in New Mexico, but no way to know for sure. I want to make sure I’m not a carrier before I head north. Sticking to gray counties that show little or no exposure to the virus on the national map, trying to stay as safe as I can.
Spectacular!