the cold ground

there is a thrill so real and powerful that comes from living near the ocean.  the salt water gives me an exhilaration that i will never feel elsewhere.  but, as i have spent my time living thousands of miles away from home i have realized where my heart lies.  i am a mountain girl.  the red rock, the clear starry nights, the towering mountains, rolling hills, the wildlife, and trees that reach endlessly toward the sky are my lifeline.  they give me the freedom and independence a girl needs.  i don't know if i'll ever be able to love a man the way i love the great-outdoors.  we are all products of our environments and mine just happens to be mule rides, tents, hiking boots, mosquito bites, and dirt underneath my fingernails.

  

{images via}