wonder at

Even Americans who might get a little lost in the alphabet soup of other agencies — there are more than 400 of them — will probably never forget standing in Yosemite Valley and gawking in silent wonder at a towering waterfall.

The goal is wonder — at times, you can place your hand on the table and wait as fish swim toward you.

I must wonder at this point if Smith is as irretrievably stupid or simply a Trumper in disguise.

It is the wonder at a glimpse of a freshly mowed field, the pride in identifying a teenager that just might be good enough to make a living playing the game, the camaraderie among colleagues who sacrifice nights and weekends for what can be less of a job and more of a calling.

“Still, astonishing that the largest living things on the planet don’t make that list! Too many memories to list, from my own childhood awe to watching my children experience the same wonder at such ancient giants. Yes, you got the redwoods ... twice, but no General Sherman amidst the splendor of the Sierras???”