Daren took the job because he was tired of the office life, the back-biting, the economics, the intrigue. He needed to get away, slow down, hear himself think for awhile. Also, because he had a scare that made him reconsider his career moves. When he heard about the job as Ranger, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. He had worked with the Forestry Department straight out of college for a few years and had really loved it. But his girlfriend, Abby, insisted he "make something of himself".
So he found a job in the corporate world and joined the fast track to success and happiness. Success came quickly, happiness never did. He moved up the corporate ladder easily, he was a team player and had an innate ability to please the masses. He was successful, really, beyond all his expectations. But he lost so much. Abby moved on to a man who had more time for her. His parents grew old and died while he was in meetings. His brothers and sister found love, marriage, kids and suburban living. Even his old college pals headed in different directions, actually doing all the things they had idealistically planned in late night dorm sessions.
Daren chased the dream Abby had for him, making it his dream, buying a spacious apartment, filling it with lovely furniture and expensive toys, moving in elite circles. He rarely had time to think, and when he did, he rarely thought about his life, just his next deal.
When he had the first chest pains, he ignored them. They persisted. Working out caused his chest to hurt. Eating caused his chest to hurt. Preparing for meetings caused his chest to hurt. Finally, just being asleep, alone, in his own bed, caused his chest to hurt. His doctor told him that this was a warning sign. He was a young man, healthy and strong, yet his body was rebelling against his stress-filled life. The doctor recommended a long vacation, followed by a more relaxed lifestyle.
It was during his forced vacation when Daren saw the notice. A position for a Ranger in the nearby mountains. It was a summer job, complete with rustic cabin, a neat Ranger Jeep and lots of fresh air and time to relax. Daren called the Forestry Service and requested an application. As he mailed it, he found himself breathing easier than he had in a long time. Within a week, he got the call from an old Ranger pal, offering him the job. Daren quickly accepted, not allowing himself time to worry or wonder about this insanity.
He called one of his partners at the firm and arranged for a summer leave of absence and began making plans. Secretly he felt sure the company would not endure his time off and would fall apart, but felt he needed to take this time and examine his life.
His summer started fine. He loved the cabin and found he could exist without all the toys and amenities of his past life. He started reading for pleasure again, listening to music, listening to nature. He found he could sleep quite well without medication after a day of walking through the woods, breathing the fresh air and using his rusty muscles. His job was simple. He was to patrol this area of the mountain, helping hikers, watching for fires, picking up trash left behind by careless campers. He loved it. All his skills, learned years ago, came back to him. He found he was able to hike a little further each day and actually hated having to use his Jeep for longer excursions. He was up early, patrolling his area, keeping the "city folks" safe in the woods. In the evenings, he fixed himself a simple meal and relaxed with one of the books he had been buying for years, planning to read someday. He slept in the simple cot, or, most often, he would stretch out on the balcony, the stars overhead lighting the night with twinkles.
