Personal Reflection: Car Ride - Mary Ragan

So getting back from break tonight, I was thinking and reflecting on my trip to and from NJ. I rode with two other students, one who I had ridden with before and the other who I had met before but really never been around or talked to. I love this though because I love getting to know new people. Actually, the first time I got in the car to drive six hours to NJ last year with the one student was the first time I had met her. This makes for such interesting conversation and for some reason a comfortableness for me to talk and discuss things openly. I think this can relate to meeting people on hikes, as you don't even know them but somehow are comfortable and get close to them. I like car rides because they can be a nice time to just relax, listen to music and talk. The past couple rides we have seen beautiful sunsets and this time on our way up there was a really great moon and sky. Its so nice to sit and stare at things like these and think. Even if there may be a few awkward silences, I think that they bring on different thoughts and things as we sit pondering in the car and bring us closer to others as we marvel and are in awe together.

I was also thinking this trip about how many times I have made this trip back and forth to VA in my life which is a lot since I have been coming down my whole life. Yet I don't think that I would be able to drive it on my own if I got in a car right now. I am one of those people who pays no attention to where the car is going if I am not the one driving. I recognize landmarks and things and that I have been there before but don't know my way. So I was thinking about how this kind of relates to a place being tred upon without being entered, in much simpler terms anyway. And also to how it relates to the difference between experiencing and participating in . Until I drive it on my own I don't think I will really understand or participate in the trip. But like in entering or participating in a sacred place, at times it is something that takes time or that you have to eventually grow into.