To be a white-throated swift...

This morning I had a moment. One of those moments where you can't help but smile, you want to laugh out loud, yell and jump around. But instead you just sit and soak it in and feel content and ecstatic. 
My mom and I were at the Grand Canyon for the past day, and we walked out to the semi-secret overlook, Shoshone Point, at 7 this morning. While my mom was jogging, I sat at the edge of the canyon in the sunshine and all of a sudden I was surrounded by dozens of white-throated swifts. They swooped and soared within feet of my head, so close that I could hear the sound of their wings. The sun was rising, the birds were twirling through the canyon... I can't think of a more perfect beginning to a day.

Mom + sunset at Shoshone Point

I have a new favorite spot and a new favorite bird now, until I have another moment. 

















I've now been to the Grand Canyon twice this week, and I want to go back right now! And go to every other park in the southwest. Hopefully in the next 3 months I'll get to at least a couple more. I feel so lucky to be living in Arizona right now, and taking classes that show me spectacular vistas so that I can take pictas (shout-out to Vista 2 monongo!).

Here is one of my classmates exhibiting the most exhilarating way to look at the canyon... upside down!