At the age of 45, most days in Tucson were spent feeling like I was on the summit of Mauna Kea, as I was exhibiting debilitating health symptoms that corresponded to what I saw at very high altitude. I was later to find that I had erratic low blood oxygen levels after almost a decade of high altitude work.

~ Steven Magee

Steven Magee Age Almost Altitude Astronomer Astronomy Blood Corresponded Days Debilitating Decade Erratic Exhibiting Feeling Find Health High Kea Later Levels Like Low Mauna Most Observatory Oxygen Saw Spent Summit Symptoms Tucson Very What Work

In my own worst seasons I've come back from the colorless world of despair by forcing myself to look hard, for a long time, at a single glorious thing: a flame of red geranium outside my bedroom window. And then another: my daughter in a yellow dress. And another: the perfect outline of a full, dark sphere behind the crescent moon. Until I learned to be in love with my life again. Like a stroke victim retraining new parts of the brain to grasp lost skills, I have taught myself joy, over and over again(15).

~ Barbara Kingsolver

Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Dark High Joy Kingsolver Life Love Rebirth Taught Tide Times Tucson