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CBS News
11 minutes ago
- CBS News
A pilgrimage to the desk with the greatest view
In the high desert of West Texas, there's a trail dodging cactus. No signs or guideposts here … just the crunch of gravel underfoot, and above, a wide-open sky. But for those in the know, like Matt Walter, this is the journey to a local legend. It's become known as The Desk on Hancock Hill. Locals call it simply "the desk" … an unlikely landmark in the city of Alpine that's been holding court for more than 45 years. Matt Walter has been making the trek to it almost as long: "The first time I came up was like January 1986," he said. "It was cold. There was snow on the ground. I didn't know about the desk then; that was before the signage. And I was just kind of like, Oh my gosh, this is so cool!" An amateur photographer, Walter has documented the changes over the years. The desk isn't much to look at. It could have come from any classroom – weathered by the weather, and covered in graffiti. But when seated at it, and looking out over the desert, you feel changed. Walter said he has felt introspective when visiting the desk: "I've had a couple of moments like that where you reflect on the views, the distance, looking out onto this vastness, and wondering about the amazement of Mother Nature," he said. Dani Bell, who was visiting the site, said, "It's very therapeutic. You can clear your mind and really just get some stuff out if you need to." What may be more remarkable than the feeling it inspires is how it came to be. In the late 1970s, Jim Kitchen was a student at nearby Sul Ross State University. He wanted a place to study with a view, so with a couple of classmates, they hauled up a desk, planting it at the top, like a flag on a new frontier. Kitchen's nephew, Tony Curry, said his uncle was someone who would drag a desk to the top of a hill: "He is that kind of guy," Curry said. "He's a wild, wild man and he's got a lot of energy." Curry showed us one of the earlier desks. (They're now swapped out every decade or so, as the elements and visitors take a toll.) And Kitchen left more than a desk up here – also, a notebook and pen, because with vast views come big thoughts. Curry said he'd written in the book many times. "It's kind of like a meditative place, you know, where you can go and you can just think about things and kind of sort out your problems," he said. Dozens of filled notebooks, dating back decades, are catalogued at the university library, and meticulously preserved by the school's archivist. You might call Paula Kitchen Curry, Jim's sister, the unofficial archivist, having gone up to the desk at least 30 times to rotate out the notebooks. "I've copied them one time and sent them to my brother, just so he can see what has happened," she said. What she's comes back with is something akin to a confession booth wrapped in a time capsule … the entries, often heartbreaking. "To 18 y/o me & everyone who needs to hear it: It does get better. Change can be good. The world is bigger than you think it is." Reading the entries, Paula said, "Sometimes it breaks my heart, and sometimes it makes me laugh, sometimes it makes me want to be a better writer!" Asked what he believes the notebooks, and the solitude at the desk, provide to people, Tony Curry said, "There are times when you find yourself looking for a way to get something out of your head, and going up to the desk gives you time to think about it, and then the notebook gives you a place to put it down, and then the journey back down gives you a place to kind of leave it behind." For more info: Story produced by Christ Laible. Editor: David Bhagat.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
My brother didn't give me a plus-one for his wedding. I was upset at first, but I'm actually so relieved I went alone.
I was bummed about not getting a plus-one for my brother's wedding — it's hard being a single guest. Turns out, the date I would've brought was messy. I'm glad he didn't get the chance to ruin the day. Now, I'm OK not getting a plus-one. I've also set a new, higher bar for relationships. When my little brother told me he was getting married, I was beyond happy and incredibly proud of him for finding such a wonderful partner and healthy relationship. On top of that, I was stoked that they asked me to be a bridesmaid and give a speech at the reception. However, I was pretty bummed when I found out singles, including myself, weren't getting plus-ones. It can be tough being the single wedding guest, especially as a divorcée Having been married before, I know how expensive weddings are. I didn't give any singles a plus-one to my wedding for that very reason. As such, I knew I was being more than a little hypocritical for feeling hurt that I couldn't bring a date. However, part of me secretly felt like a failure for being divorced and single in a sea of happy couples at all the weddings I've attended since my marriage ended. I knew I'd especially feel the burn at a family wedding like this, where all my cousins attending were also married. The kicker is, if I'd gotten a plus-one, I even would've had a date to bring this time. I had just started seeing a guy who wanted to come to the wedding with me. Nevertheless, I decided not to push the issue. I attended the wedding alone and, in the weeks that followed, I realized my brother made the right call by not letting me bring a nameless date. Looking back, I'm relieved I didn't bring a plus-one who could've ruined my whole night The more I got to know the guy who would've been my wedding date, the more I realized he wouldn't have been a very good plus-one. Shortly after the wedding, I navigated a slew of messy incidents with him — several involved him getting far too drunk, and most left me embarrassed in a public space. Suffice it to say, our relationship didn't last. One of my biggest takeaways, though, was that I dodged a bullet by not bringing him to my brother's wedding. Based on the behaviors I witnessed from him in the weeks after the big day, I probably would've spent most of the evening having to babysit him instead of enjoying the celebration. Again, I can't say for sure how things would've gone, but I'm grateful I didn't give him the chance to embarrass me or cause a scene that would take away the beautiful energy of the happy couple's wedding. I'm glad he's not in any wedding photos, and that I was able to spend the day focusing on the people I truly loved who were in attendance. This experience also taught me more about what I'm really looking for in a relationship Maybe not getting a plus one as a single guest isn't so bad — you get more time to focus on the healthy love around you. Watching my brother and new sister-in-law that day, and in the time since, I have been in awe of seeing what a good relationship looks like, and taking notes. This situation was definitely a wake-up call that prompted me to pause and reflect on my unhealthy patterns and poor relationship decisions. Since then, I've been working on that part of myself and making improvements. I've also learned to be a lot more comfortable being the single person in a group of couples, and I've stopped thinking less of myself for it. The big takeaway for me, though, is that now I know what I'm looking for in a relationship: Someone I'd be proud to bring to a wedding, who the couple would be happy to invite by name. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
41 minutes ago
- Fox News
The Silent Strength of Fathers & the Journey to Forgiveness
In a society where the structure and stability of the family unit are increasingly challenged, the role of fathers and the deep, often unspoken need to understand one's biological roots remain profoundly significant. In this powerful conversation, Adam Coleman, author of 'The Children We Left Behind,' reflects on his experience growing up without an active father, and emphasizes the need for forgiveness, grace, and confronting family dynamics to break cycles of dysfunction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
