The equinox full moon walk at Pueblo Bonito inspired several examples of why the Chaco park rangers do what they do.
1. During the evening, Briana, a volunteer ranger at Chaco for several months, exclaimed how wonderful it is to see so many happy people (there were 80!). I understood, because I felt the same way when I volunteered for the day on summer solstice the past couple of years.
How great to be doing something you love, and seeing others happy as a result!
2. G.B. Cornucopia frequently receives little gifts, especially from children. Paloma, an adorable young girl around 4 years old, gave G.B. a thank you note written in crayon, which promptly went on G.B.'s refrigerator.
After the equinox moonrise evening, she presented G.B. with another drawing. She explained, all by herself (no adults involved), that it was a picture of how the sun goes down, and the moon comes up. Another prized piece of art for the refrigerator.
She totally got his kinesthetic astronomy presentation. That, he said, is why I do what I do.
3. John has been a park ranger at several parks over the years. He shared that while watching G.B. at Pueblo Bonito, and the faces of the crowd of visitors hanging on his every word, he remembered (with some emotion) why he became a park ranger in the first place.
As a teenager visiting Mesa Verde with his parents, he was enthralled by a ranger's presentation. He decided then that he wanted to do what the ranger was doing.
The park rangers at Chaco are there because they love what they do. Many thanks to all of them!
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