jade hunting

The only thing Saturday promised was that it would most likely be rainy throughout the day. That being said, I knew, there was a good chance that I would be caught in it. Some friends had offered to take my roommate and I Jade hunting in Big Sur. We were forewarned that the trails could be difficult, especially if it was rainy and we agreed to go nonetheless. On the car ride down, our friends showed us various pieces of the beautiful stone found on previous excursions. Seeing these pieces really made me anxious to get out and start looking. I was a bit apprehensive about the drive down to Big Sur; as I’ve never really been a fan of two lane cliff roads. On the way down I thought a lot about my life. The past week had sucked, I’d let school readings fall behind, work had been scary slow, and romantic life was very confusing; I felt agitated and uneasy. To make matters worse, it was Valentine’s Day. Finding a piece of jade became a mission that I needed to accomplish in order to keep my mind off of my problems and thus keep my sanity. I desperately needed this break from reality. Shit even just a break from cell phone service would be nice, and I was quite pleased when I realized I had no signal. After about an hour of driving we pulled up to the first location.
Before I knew it, I was out of the car and scrambling along some rocks at the base of the cliff. I tried to keep up without smashing my skull on the jagged formations, or fall into the grey ocean that kept sending angry waves my direction. Finally we reached the rocky beach and at last I could begin my hunt. Looking for that clear green treasure proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. Not only did one have to balance and squat near the rocks but they also had to keep an eye on the waves that crashed onto the beach every 30 seconds or so. I laughed to myself when a wave caught all of us off guard and we were left drenched in the salty water. After that first wave, I became like a shore bird, occasionally darting to and from the water, becoming as instinctually aware of the vibrant and dangerous waves as my own breathing. Every fiber of my body was happy to be near the ocean, in the rain, spending time with dear friends. I began to realize that even if I didn’t find any jade at all, the trip itself was washing me clean of all the problems that haunted me. I lifted my face toward the rain drops and let them run down my face, soaking in my surrounding entirely.
Feeling instantly refreshed, I stooped down to the rocks again, and there just under a large flat stone was a tiny piece of green. My heart surged, I dropped to my knees and with delicate fingers plucked the tiny green stone out of the mass of rocks. I laid the tiny square piece in the palm of my hand and I was sure, just as it was raining, that I had found my first piece of jade. Delighted, I ran over to my friends to ask for the confirmation that I already knew would come. Smiling and laughing they told me that I had officially found my first piece of jade. “How does it feel?” they asked. “Well,” I replied carefully, “I don’t think words can exactly describe it.” Knowingly they nodded, “Now, you are a jade hunter.” Looking back, it is amazing how the simplicity of searching for jade can bring one such happiness and inner peace. While it is an ineffable feeling, I can say that is has forever changed my perception of life and what it means to be truly happy.