09 Aug 2026 3 min read Field Notes

Hold On Loosely

But Don't Let Go

Photo by S. Rolling

Yeah, that song. It was stuck in my head on a walk today.

I'm not exactly a mega fan of .38 Special, but it is a great song and part of the 80s zeitgeist. Today it had nothing to do with what the song's actually about. Just me circling the idea of expectation, gripping, and learning to ease up.

Planned to go earlier, while the fog was still low. I've come to love that light for nature pics. Wasn't in the cards though. Didn't sleep well, late start, dragged too long and by the time I was ready, the fog already burned off.

At the trailhead I was half thinking, what's the point. Clear, bright, and closing in on midday, my least favorite time for pics or to hike. I have to cover up fully in strong sun, and it was already warmer than I like. But screw it, I'd at least grind out some zone 2 if my body lets me.

Then I found a few flowers that weren't there a week ago. Bloom season's pretty much behind us now. Since I'm missing a lot March-May pics from that data loss...

This was a welcomed surprise and felt like little treat.

After, I went into the redwood stand, one of my favorite spots in the park. A single browning redwood spray in a sea of green caught my eye, something totally mundane and just plain uninteresting. For some reason it fascinated me after I got close and started walking around it. The way it caught light, the depth of experience coming off the same subject is pretty freakin cool, at least to me.

I wasn't really planning on writing or posting today. But like a lot of what I write, it's a product of mid-trail thinking. And to be honest I almost didn't go, but I'm glad I showed up.

Today was perfectly imperfect, in the best ways.

What's the last ordinary thing that stopped you in your tracks?

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