Reflect, regenerate, regroup
by Kevin Kirkey
Site Manager
On the last day of a monumental year for the Corps of Discovery, Joseph Whitehouse made a curious comment in his journal. He wrote, “Nothing particular occurred since Christmas,” and ended the sentence with, “but we live in peace and tranquility in our fort.”
I guess I sort of understand his blasé mood. For seven exhilarating months the men of the Lewis & Clark Expedition had navigated through the unknown. They were disconnected from all that was familiar, alone in a potentially hostile environment. They had stumbled upon enormous herds of exotic animals, endured weather extremes different than any they had ever encountered, and met people who dressed, talked, and lived unlike every other.
After 230 straight days of movement, they were now eking out a sedentary lifestyle along the frozen Missouri. It would be another ninety days before they would take another step toward the Pacific. Whitehouse and the others were enjoying the downtime.
I, for one, can relate to Whitehouse’s mood. The occasional respite from the hustle and bustle of workplace stress, household chores, or the other things life throws at me are always appreciated. There are times in my life when I feel as if I am standing still and the world is passing me by and I use those intervals to reflect, regenerate, and regroup.
