I vividly remember sitting on the big green raft on the Colorado River. It was the last day of the honors trip, and I was ready to take a shower but not ready to go back to school. Mr. Farmer was rowing and let the rest of us sit and talk on the raft. 

Mr. Farmer told us his life story, while we ate the remaining camping snacks- M&M’s, yogurt, and gummy worms. Below the raft, the water was a bright blue-green, and cliffs surrounded us on the left and right. There were no man-made structures in sight, just rock; no school or stress, just water and a cool breeze. There was nothing to do and I loved it. The sun shone above, warming our faces. We sat on a large foam sleeping pad, and I could hear the steady sound of the oars hitting the water. This was one of those moments, I thought, that I wish I could live in forever. 

picture credit: Donald Giannatti