Ranger Twitch's Observation Tower

(crickets chirping) (flames crackling softly) This is 207 signing off. (wind blowing softly) On some nights, a curious fog gathers around Sleeper Mountain and only one small blinking light that can be seen for miles. (crickets chirping) This observation tower was built with this type of weather in mind. Its light can withstand the winter storms that periodically blanket this mountain with snow, but tonight is one of those rare instances where not a single cloud floats through the sky. Yes, tonight is as clear as ever, and the shooting stars have begun their journeys above the treetops. A perfect evening to explore. (crickets chirping) (fire crackling softly) Before we begin, let us begin with a short wind-down exercise. Tonight's wind down is a visualization. So when you're ready, let's begin. (flames crackling softly) So just take a moment to get comfortable. (crickets chirping) Letting go of the day. (crickets chirping) (flames crackling) Enjoying that feeling of having stopped, of having nothing left to do. We're going to focus the attention of the mind on the different parts of the body. Watching as the muscles in the body switch off for the night leaving the body feeling rested and leaving the mind more at ease. (flames crackling) (crickets chirping) So, starting down at the toes and just a sense of the muscles switching off: the feet, the arches, all those muscles switching off. Same in the lower half of the legs. So any tension being let go of as the muscles switch off, shut down. In the upper half of the legs any tension melting away, being let go of. Into the area of the hips, the pelvis, again, any muscles shutting down for the night. Completely at rest. (flames crackling softly) (crickets chirping) Everything from the waist downward is heavy, at ease. The muscles in the lower back and the stomach now switching off. Middle of the back, around the diaphragm, the upper back and the chest, so any muscles not needed shutting down. Switching off for the night. The shoulders, switching off. The upper half of the arms and the lower half of the arms, switching off. The hands, fingers, (wind blowing softly) just switching off. (flames crackling) Any muscles around the throat and the neck switching off. The head, the face, the jaw, the eyes, any last areas of tension melting away as the muscles shut down. Switch off. At rest for the night, (flames crackling softly) and allowing thoughts to come and go. Allowing the mind and body the space they need to rest. (crickets chirping) (fire crackling softly) On nights like this, when Iris, the mountain dog, is snoring and the warmth of nostalgia overcomes him, Ranger Twitch is reminded of the first time he stepped foot into the observation tower. He remembers the smell of cedar and soil in the air, as his mother prepared for the morning shift on the mountain. How the snowflakes melted against the window panes gently, (wind blowing softly)...