We had been hiking across a barren landscape of sandstone interrupted by short stretches of juniper forests. “Alone” is just a word. It might mean there is nobody in the room with you, or even in your house. It wisely doesn’t try to capture the feeling that comes from the knowledge that there are no humans…anywhere. because this place is so remote, so…alien that you realize that you aren’t just alone. You are all that exists. And then, as you walk across this sandstone world, you spot a message, no bigger than your hand. How long has it been here? You wish you could reach across time and space to say “I got your message”