Panama is riddled with caves, and I had a carbide light. There isn't a whole lot of space in the carbide chamber, so you had better carry a reserve of carbide. Carbide lanterns are an anachronism. It is much better to carry a battery lamp and have extra batteries than a carbide light.
Thank you for this beautiful little memoir. I was reminded at first of the lovely old myth that one can see the stars of day from the bottom of a deep well. Anchored in reality, your account is much better.
"Lacking any visual input, I could literally feel my ears expand, seeking out additional sounds to make up for my blindness." Magnificent.
I love this story. I also love that you leave us in the middle of the cave with you for a bit, but with the knowledge that you survived. And then, as Barry notes, there is the absence of the light that led to a spiritual event. Normally we think “light” reveals, so its absence here is a metaphor for not being distracted by what we think we see and allows something deeper to happen. Go Rainbow!
Please appreciate the psychological fortitude it took to read past "With more than a little trepidation, I carefully scrunched myself along the slick muddy shute." and not immediately run to the comments and say "Well, missy, did you stop to think how you were going to crawl back up a slick mud shute? Hmmmm?"
Thank you for this beautifully written account that saves me from ever having to go underground myself. I'll take your word for it.
Ha Ha. In my own defense I was still young and dumb at only 18. Plus silly me, I assumed the other ladies knew what they were doing! I sure as heck wouldn't do it now.
Thank you for that beautifully written adventure, Rainbow. I haven’t been in a cave since I was a child. They are magical. Enjoyed sharing your cave exploration from the comfort of my armchair!
I think that we ALL have stories from our past experiences that we might share, if only we had the talent and education to put them down in print. Thank you for this one!
Wow Rainbow! That was quite the mesmorizing memoir. It certainly deserved to win an essay contest. I would like to have read the other essays that were submitted, but I can't imagine any essay topping that. I, too, felt genuinely immersed in your experience. That takes talent, and one heck of a good writer. The only cave experience I have is eating lunch at "La Gruta Restaurant." It is located in a volcanic cave near the Teotihuacan pyramids, outside of Mexico City. It was a mystical atmosphere, but nothing remotely comparable to your cave excursion. This was also forty-five years ago.
If I were in your shoes, I don't think I'd reach the spiritual intensity you so eloquently describe, I'd die of fright first. Just the thought of a bat in my bonnet terrifies me. Thank you so much for sharing your life with all of us. I so enjoy your writing and JiP commentary. This is the type of "diversity" I wouldn't want to live without.
I am touched by your compliments Mary. I think I would have been more fearful about the bat in my hat if it hadn't been asleep and if I hadn't already been through so much scary that day. I think my fear meter was burned out by that point. I agree totally regarding JIP and diversity. I become even more appreciative for all you folks the more crazy I see online- of which there is sadly a lot.
Beautiful ❤️. It was better not having the extra lights that would have deprived you of bonding with the universe and your ancestors ;)
Panama is riddled with caves, and I had a carbide light. There isn't a whole lot of space in the carbide chamber, so you had better carry a reserve of carbide. Carbide lanterns are an anachronism. It is much better to carry a battery lamp and have extra batteries than a carbide light.
Yeah, hopefully never going to use a carbide light myself after that!
I think a carbide lantern would be hard to find nowadays.
Out of curiosity I just checked and it looks like they are still around. Lehman's and a few others sell them.
I would think they are more of a novelty than something a person would use
Thank you for this beautiful little memoir. I was reminded at first of the lovely old myth that one can see the stars of day from the bottom of a deep well. Anchored in reality, your account is much better.
"Lacking any visual input, I could literally feel my ears expand, seeking out additional sounds to make up for my blindness." Magnificent.
So glad you enjoyed!
Agree! I felt like I was there.
I love this story. I also love that you leave us in the middle of the cave with you for a bit, but with the knowledge that you survived. And then, as Barry notes, there is the absence of the light that led to a spiritual event. Normally we think “light” reveals, so its absence here is a metaphor for not being distracted by what we think we see and allows something deeper to happen. Go Rainbow!
Thanks Louisa! I forgot to say that the theme of the essay contest was light in the darkness.
Please appreciate the psychological fortitude it took to read past "With more than a little trepidation, I carefully scrunched myself along the slick muddy shute." and not immediately run to the comments and say "Well, missy, did you stop to think how you were going to crawl back up a slick mud shute? Hmmmm?"
Thank you for this beautifully written account that saves me from ever having to go underground myself. I'll take your word for it.
Ha Ha. In my own defense I was still young and dumb at only 18. Plus silly me, I assumed the other ladies knew what they were doing! I sure as heck wouldn't do it now.
Thank you for that beautifully written adventure, Rainbow. I haven’t been in a cave since I was a child. They are magical. Enjoyed sharing your cave exploration from the comfort of my armchair!
Reliving from the comfort of our armchairs is the best!
This is beautiful, Rainbow!!!
I think that we ALL have stories from our past experiences that we might share, if only we had the talent and education to put them down in print. Thank you for this one!
You are welcome. and yes and I hope more people will share all those stories they have! That is what elders were supposed to do back in the day......
Wow Rainbow! That was quite the mesmorizing memoir. It certainly deserved to win an essay contest. I would like to have read the other essays that were submitted, but I can't imagine any essay topping that. I, too, felt genuinely immersed in your experience. That takes talent, and one heck of a good writer. The only cave experience I have is eating lunch at "La Gruta Restaurant." It is located in a volcanic cave near the Teotihuacan pyramids, outside of Mexico City. It was a mystical atmosphere, but nothing remotely comparable to your cave excursion. This was also forty-five years ago.
If I were in your shoes, I don't think I'd reach the spiritual intensity you so eloquently describe, I'd die of fright first. Just the thought of a bat in my bonnet terrifies me. Thank you so much for sharing your life with all of us. I so enjoy your writing and JiP commentary. This is the type of "diversity" I wouldn't want to live without.
I am touched by your compliments Mary. I think I would have been more fearful about the bat in my hat if it hadn't been asleep and if I hadn't already been through so much scary that day. I think my fear meter was burned out by that point. I agree totally regarding JIP and diversity. I become even more appreciative for all you folks the more crazy I see online- of which there is sadly a lot.