I decided to go camping, during the cold, wet season in California, when the sky is gray, when the wind bites your skin, when the rain seeps all the way to the bone, when the sun is hibernating, before the winter turns to spring, before beaches become crowded, before shorts are acceptable to wear outside, in order to humble myself, in order to find greater appreciation for the warmer days, in order to test my skills in nature, in order to have something to look forward to, because without the sun, without the blue skies, without the birds chirping and the beaches buzzing, I can still find gratitude. (108)