We set out early. A bargain of rock hunting in exchange for some arch hunting. Two humans with different wants. The calibration of togetherness. A big breakfast and a packed backpack. A tiny human and a rock hammer. Side of the road parking and climbing down to mud set river beds. Chipping away at the rocks. A thousand questions of how and why. And if the earth is our mother. Whom is our father. “ the universe , maybe?” Using his awe stricken voice that’s just barely a whisper “ father universe”...... and now his companion voice “ yeah mom I think that’s it “ We bring back to the car everything we want to identify. A barely hardened mud slab with animal tracks, pockets full of tiny rocks , brittle clay pieces that look like bones and away we go The corona arch is just further up the road. He trances the map with his fingers a few time at the parking lot. “ are you sure you know how to get there mom? “ I promise him I do. We will. Together. An hour up , across a train track and the majestic canyons of sandstone. All quiet. His questioning have gone inward for the moment. Up a ladder fastened to the rocks, up, up ,up... He cranes his neck and slows his step. And shouts “ thank you Mother Earth and father universe!! This is sooo beautifully awesome” “ how rare are arches like this mom ? Like rare, super rare or really really super duper rare?” Be still my beating heart ,boy. You are my favorite adventure partner in the whole known universe.