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Admiring the View

It was quiet. The nearly empty streets of the National Park were illuminated only by the headlights on the occasional passing car. The trees lining the driveway blocked any clear views of the Grand Canyon only yards away. Slowly winding our car along the darkened streets, my friend and I came to a sign directing visitors to a viewing area. We had spent the entire day exploring the South Rim of the Canyon from numerous vantage points, each more impressive than the last. Yet, we had chosen to explore the Park further, seeking out additional views. Vague as it was, this sign piqued our curiosity and we turned off of the main street and onto a gravel-covered parking lot. The view changed immediately. Gone were the towering evergreen trees. In their place was a clear, unobstructed view . . . of nothing.

The gravel lot extended a few yards beyond the parking area before it blended with the rocky ledge of the Canyon. Above it, the nighttime sky was imposing in its sheer scale. Dotted by stars, it drew the eye from the surrounding area, even the expansive Canyon beneath it. Though there were other people at this particular overlook, it still was nearly silent. No one was audibly speaking. There was not even a hint of any of the wildlife which called the Park home. The scene was almost mesmerizing.

My friend and I found ourselves staring at the sky for an extended period of time. Both of us accustomed to large, urban skylines, we were transfixed by the sight. We sat there for several minutes, just looking. Watching the sky and occasionally peering into the Canyon.

My trip to the Grand Canyon provided a number of stories and memories. But, one of the most memorable moments was the time I spent watching nothing.

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