I enjoyed today's conversation regarding Jon Krakauer's book Into the Wild. I can't help but identify with the determination that Chris had to live an authentic life and to search his soul for the essence of what it means to be human. I think that a strong, emphathic soul is very vulnerable to the ideals of passionate writers like Tolstoy, Thoreau, and London. There is a "terrible beauty" in the idea of connecting to the world in a stripped-down, intimate way...it's a call that can be extremely enticing. In a culture that is wrapped up in itself, it can be hard for the reflective soul to thrive--to breathe and grow. Personally, I've always been afraid that my travels and adventures would end some day...I understand what Chris means when he says that "the joy of life comes from our encounteres with new experiences." In some ways, I can't shake the feeling of voyeurism that is a part of reading Chris's story. On other hand, I feel grateful for having had the chance to see the world from his eyes, if only for a little while. To see the wonderful website for the Into the Wild movie, go to: Into the Wild.