Viajero...blogging Ricks Journey: A Room ~ Without A View

Though I’ve done no scientific research, I do believe that the most celebrated view is that of a sunrise or sunset. Think about it for yourself. Mountains, rivers, waterfalls, the stars, the ocean … all of these present some of the most amazing visual experiences that we’ve ever enjoyed. But ~~ who has not sat, while dining, while sitting upon a mountain top, or upon the oceans shores, from your hotel room, or as Rob Georg sings, "Sunsets from the Ranch", and lingered while the sun slowly dipped beyond the horizon? By itself, it is completely spectacular! Yet, add a few clouds, perhaps a sailboat, or a couple walking upon the seashore ~ and you have just magnified your moment in untold ways.

But let’s say that your view is obstructed? Perhaps it’s a cloudy day. Maybe there are structures that prevent you from enjoying that most wonderful moment. Or, perhaps it is creation itself.

~ The 'Pearly Gates' ~

In 2007, I had the privilege to join a dozen of my firefighter comrades on a 11,249 foot climb of Mount Hood in Oregon. Your day actually begins the previous day. That is, you begin your ascent at approximately 11pm the night before,. The goal is to time your arrival in order to capture the dawn of the new day. Yet, on that particular day we experienced one major problem. Due to a couple of our comrades having climbing difficulties, and hence having to descend, we arrived at what is called the ‘Pearly Gates’ only minutes before the rising of that amazing ball of fire. Because of our late arrival, ice had begun to fall from the narrow passage of the ‘Pearly Gates’. Dave, our most excellent guide, made the painful decision to abandon the climb. The sunrise goal ~ well, it would be missed. So, the safety of the moment and the crew took preeminence. The point ~ At 11,100 feet, we were but a mere 150 feet from seeing what would have been one of those most spectacular sunrises. Instead, the mountain herself blocked our scene.

Now fifteen years later we found ourselves in a room without a view. Though we had been “upgraded” from our typical unit, it surely seemed more like a downgrade. You see, if you have reservations, made nearly a year in advance, to the next higher condos, the presumption would be an ocean view. Initially we were hopeful, as our room number was ‘7168’. That must be the seventh floor, correct? Oh no! That would somehow be the seventh building. And it was on the first floor. So what began as a potential ocean view became one of jungle plants.

Say What?

After several encounters with multiple different employees from each of the high-end to lower-end units, over that evening and the following morning, I finally resolved that “Que sera, sera”.

It would be a couple days afterwards that the true resolve occurred. While watching the trees across our courtyard, as the gentle breeze created such a beautiful sway of the leaves, I was reminded of a simple truth. That is, that a view is solely a perspective. You see, that 11,100 foot climb in ascent of Mount Hood … it was not lacking view, only the expected view. The same is true of our first floor condo. Though it was not the expected view … there was, and is a view to be enjoyed.

Might we recognize that our rooms without an apparent view … do indeed have a view. If only we change our perspective.