Skip to main content

To The Waterfall

Yesterday, I hiked.
I strapped baby boy to my chest and met aunts, grandma, uncle Brett, and cousin kidlets at the trailhead
And away we went!
Up, up, up, and down, down, down, to the waterfall.



Anne carried my backpack. I had a baby in tow and didn't know what all he'd need,
so I over prepared.
She helped save me from being too much of a pack mule
And I helped save the worries of those that used the outhouse
because in my over-preparation I had brought hand sanitizer.



There were steep parts with slippery needles from pines
There were trip wires made of tree roots
And slick rocks worn from thousands of hikers' boots
So 9-year-old Ben stopped to be my anchor
I held his shoulder while I clambered down



I hiked this trail before when I was 13
with my Young Women leaders and friends
And it kicked my backside when I had to climb the steep parts
But this time, I did it with baby boy strapped to my chest
I surged ahead with stamina and a smile.
It felt pretty rad to be in better shape this time.



The sound of water wafted through the trees
Tally heard it, Lindy heard it
and I was like the parents in the Polar Express who couldn't hear the bell
and disbelieved
until I saw the water cascading down the mountain's cheek
And conceded to their lovely ears
that knew it was there without seeing.

Lindy found a butterfly


JJ found a heart rock


Charlie & Jane found a way to nap


Josie found my next-door neighbor, Park Ranger Joe


Ben and Tally and Calvin found the water


There at the base of the waterfall

Grandma shared her grapes
Katie shared a way to help me change my Charlie
We all shared laughs and Anne of Green Gables Quotes
We shared in sweat and smiles
But most of all, we shared in Family Time.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Problem with Chick Flicks.

I really, really, really enjoy a select few movies that I willingly watch over and over again. Pride and Prejudice is one of them. You see, Elizabeth's defense of her family, her sense of self respect, her ability to admit that she was wrong and to appreciate Darcy despite all his quirks, and quizzical brow-ness... it's marvelous. My husband doesn't share the sentiment, could you tell? ... and that's okay. There's rare a chick flick I enjoy near as much as I enjoy Pride and Prejudice or A Walk To Remember , and I wanted to explain why. You see, there's more than just a few problems with (many, not all) chick flicks:  (and if you have a chick flick that escapes many of these pitfalls then please oh please leave it's title in the comment section!) The heroine (or suitor) is less than honorable. I have a hard time rooting for a girl to get a gentleman when she's spending her time being scandalously loose with other men ( #thenotebook) . An...

A Year and 10 Days Ago

Dear Friends, Family, Acquaintances, and you lovely random passerby of the Blogosphere-- A year and 10 days ago I set out on a journey to write a blog post a day, for two months straight. I did that successfully, and then decided to extend my challenge to a one-year challenge. My report? I wrote 317 blog posts in a 365-day period. And I think that's pretty rad. A few reflections on this experience: Firstly, I started this blog not just because I love writing, but because I needed help. I was suffering from some intense postpartum anxiety, but I didn't know that's what it was at the time. Every moment of every day I felt like I was under severe stress and pressure, even when there were no evident triggers for such. The feeling in my gut on an almost constant basis felt like the queasy stomach, racing heartbeat, and unsettled mind that greeted me before every math test and job interview I've had growing up. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't know how...

5 Children's Books You Really Oughta Read

I love reading almost as much as I love writing. And I love writing almost as much as I love reading. Depends on the day. One never truly trumps the other. Gotta have both. These are 5 children's books I've read within the past 2 years that gave me that turn-page feeling, that friends-with-the-characters feeling, that weepy-when-it's-over-feeling. I dare you to read one and I triple-dog-dare you to leave a comment below telling me a story that's given YOU them sort of feelings. #5-- Flotsam  by David Wiesner. If you're not much of a reader (or for your loved ones who can't read at all!) check this one out. It's a whimsical wordless picture book that entertains your curiosities of what truly lies at the bottom of the sea while simultaneously indulges hopes of finding something truly awesome washed up on the shores of a summer destination spot. #4-- Echo  by Pam Muñoz Ryan. With three main characters, three plot lines from WWII era, music liter...