Dust clouds leapt into the air behind me. The drought-stressed earth made it easy to kick up dirt as I walked along the trail. The mountain hadn’t seen rain in over two months, but that didn’t keep me from enjoying my daily walks among the manzanita and madrona trees. I kept turning over thoughts of leaving this tiny little town and finally adventuring in the big world.

I’d listen to Sylvan Esso and Elliot Smith as I walked through the trail system with my camera. I’d stop to take photos of the distant peaks and wonder if I was in the right place. I’d wonder why I had a gnawing hunger rumble in my soul like a kid before lunchtime. Even more, I’d wonder why nothing I did seem to sate it.