The Sequoias

Chapter 9

I audibly gasped as the trees came into view. I had seen some big trees, but these were BIG. I opened the window and put my head outside of it. I wanted to get out and touch it. I asked him as much.

I pulled over into the little pull off for her. If she was this amazed I couldn't wait until she saw the big trees.

I got out and ran over to touch the tree. I was in awe of how long these trees had been here. I turned and looked at Avi, completely unable to form words.

Thank God there was a lull in traffic. I should have been more diligent as she had to cross the road to touch the tree. "She's beautiful. I know, but she is just a baby tree. Still very young but young for a Sequoias is still very old for us." I took several pictures. "C'mon. Let's go take your breath away."

I took his hand as he led me back to the car. He put me back in it and continued on the way. The air was so fresh, quite warm, but so clean and clear. I couldn't wait to start walking around.

We still had quite a way to go before we got into the forest proper we had two days to hit two or three of the trails I wanted to show her. I looked over at her. It is hard to remember that the area we are in is still public and I wondered if she would remember that. It was not like we were alone in the woods or the areas around our home or a park at night. I would still get expressly uncomfortable with public displays of affection but I figured her wonder and awe over the way the forest felt and the sheer beauty and magnitude of the trees would likely outweigh anything else that either of us would feel and I'd forget too to an extent. At the moment she took my hand I had not forgotten, but her safety became more important to me than my sense of whatever that is that generally stops me from holding her hand in public.

I didn't have much time to look over at Lizzie while navigating the narrow road to look at her expression but I really wanted to see the wonder I knew she was feeling. The climb is narrow and steep but the number of things that she would see for the first time along the way would be astounding. I hated missing that.

I got very lost in our surroundings. I could hear birds singing and I could smell the earth on the slight breeze. I closed my eyes and let my other senses take over a minute. I sat back in my seat. I was getting very impatient, but I tried not to let it show. I was very happy that I got to experience this with him.

"I am going to drive out to the furthest trail I want to go to. The big trees are coming up now." I knew the terrain that she would see the open spaces between the massive trees. The cliff switched to my side of the car but the slop up was on hers. The road was placed in such a way as to not interfere with the growth of the largest trees, the trails all led to those but the view would be no less amazing. No tree can do what a sequoia can do. I spied a glance at her and was instantly saddened that I was missing her awe, but happy at the same moment that she was feeling it at all. I smiled as I drove slowly past The General Sherman Tree Trail. "You're going to love it even more when we can walk among them."

I couldn't speak. I peeled my eyes away from the window and looked at him. "Thank you for bringing me here." I looked back out the windows taking pictures with my phone here and there.

I smiled and drove on. The closer and closer we got to the groves where the Sequoias grow the larger and older the trees got. We reached our first trail and I parked the car. I sat in silence for a little while to let her absorb it all before I got out of the car and grabbed my pack and went to open her door for her.

My legs were shaking as I got out of the car. I made the mistake of looking straight up and got really dizzy. Between the view and the thinner air, I was out of my comfort zone. It was like looking up at skyscrapers in the city. "Whoa." I basically landed on my butt on the ground.

Once we were out of the car and away from the parking lot, I watched as Lizzie looked up then fell promptly on her butt. I'd never seen a reaction like that to the trees. It confused the hell out of me for all of the second it to my hard head to register that my girlfriend just fell over. I knelt with one knee beside her leg on the ground and my foot behind her back so she could lean back against my leg if needed. I put my hand on hers and on the back of her head. "You okay, Honey? What happened?"

I leaned back against him for a minute. "I just got a little dizzy when I looked up. I am okay." I put my hand out for him to help me up.

"Stay there for a second longer." I grabbed the water out of my pack and handed it to her. "Not too much and drink it slowly. Then breathe slow and deep for a moment."

I nodded and took a few deep slow breaths. I took a couple of small sips and the dizziness went away. "I promise you, I'm okay." I smiled up at him. "Sorry to worry you."

I smiled down at her and nodded. "You ready now?"