Angel, page 21
Paul wondered if Ian had ever made it to his mountain. Had a snowcapped summit somewhere become Ian’s steeple? Paul pictured him in the shadow of a peak, maybe in Colorado, awed by the majestic beauty. He imagined the indescribable beauty of sparkling pools and wildflowers in bloom reflected in Ian’s Aegean eyes.
Mount Rainier is a deadly volcano that will bury everything in its path. Yet the mountain is covered in life of all kinds: plants, animals, even species that exist nowhere else on earth. The snowcapped peak, the babbling brooks, the low clouds that hang over the valleys, the interconnected life. It takes your breath away. The seasonal wildflowers, the waterfalls, the patterns of moss—they’re all here on loan. Nature is poised to destroy it all. When you forget that, Paul thought, you forget to cherish it. Maybe everyone should live in the shadow of a volcano. Maybe everyone does. What a shame it would be to stay away because you were afraid it would end. What a shame it would be to miss so much beauty.
About the Author
Laura Lee is the author of more than a dozen books on such topics as the science behind annoying things (The Pocket Encyclopedia of Aggravation), how weather changed the course of history (Blame it on the Rain), Elvis impersonation (the Elvis Impersonation Kit), and the joys of being broke (Broke is Beautiful), as well as one children’s book, A Child’s Introduction to Ballet.
The San Francisco Chronicle said, “Lee’s dry, humorous tone makes her a charming companion… She has a penchant for wordplay that is irresistible.”
She brings to her writing a unique background including stints as a morning show DJ, an improvisational comedian, a professional mime, a shopping mall Easter Bunny, and performing various odd tasks at folksinger Arlo Guthrie’s office and non-profit organization. She began her writing career at the age of 12, when she published the article “My first Day of Junior High School.”
Lee now divides her time between writing books, articles, and speeches, and producing classical ballet educational tours with her partner, the Russian ballet dancer Valery Lantratov.
Visit Laura at Twitter: http://twitter.com/LauraLeeAuthor, tumblr: http://authorlauralee.tumblr.com/, her web site: http://www.speech writing.com/lauralee/, her blog: http://author-laura-lee.blogspot.com/, and her Goodreads author page, http://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/18167.Laura_Lee.
Laura Lee, Angel
