Blissfully Thankful
Thanksgiving for me has always been a time for travel and seeing family. This year it was none of those things and while I missed my family, I loved the day. We had decided to climb Mt Greylock in Massachusetts, the highest peak in the state. Early, for the guys, late for me, we left the house at 8:30 am, arriving at 9:30 to find the gate on the road closed. The parking lot and trail head was seven miles up the blocked passage. With my favorite guide Neal in the Middle East and my sister Nancy in Colorado, this was the first mountain hike I had planned without their guidance. But off to the left was a parking lot with a visitors center and way off to the side, I spotted a trail head. We were in business, it wasn't the hike I planned, but a beautiful hike it was. Being blessed with gorgeous weather made it perfect.
We took the Northrup trail to Round Rocks and back. A long gradual climb with old stone walls, bogs and creeks to cross, and white birch trees inter spaced throughout the woods, it couldn't have been any prettier for a November day.
I was worried that Ben would get bored, but it was wasted. Ben loved it, he was like a happy dog running way ahead and then coming back to us. Sam, ever sweet, stuck close to me and made sure I was okay. Letting Ben lead took a leap of faith but with Sam checking the map and blue blazes, we mostly stayed on course. Round Rocks was a beautiful spot for lunch and the guys loved yelling and listening for their echos. Four hours and untold miles later, we were back at the car happy and with a new memory to hold near.
A year ago I could not have done this and I would have never experienced the joy of the woods on a beautiful day with the two people I love most in the world. I would not have seen Ben joyfully walking/running ahead and hear him say "I love this" or experienced the quiet strength and grace that is Sam. And I would have missed being in the moment, smelling the fresh air and feeling the sun on my face.
For this I am blissfully thankful. I hope every one found joy on this Thanksging Day, 2012.
We took the Northrup trail to Round Rocks and back. A long gradual climb with old stone walls, bogs and creeks to cross, and white birch trees inter spaced throughout the woods, it couldn't have been any prettier for a November day.
I was worried that Ben would get bored, but it was wasted. Ben loved it, he was like a happy dog running way ahead and then coming back to us. Sam, ever sweet, stuck close to me and made sure I was okay. Letting Ben lead took a leap of faith but with Sam checking the map and blue blazes, we mostly stayed on course. Round Rocks was a beautiful spot for lunch and the guys loved yelling and listening for their echos. Four hours and untold miles later, we were back at the car happy and with a new memory to hold near.
A year ago I could not have done this and I would have never experienced the joy of the woods on a beautiful day with the two people I love most in the world. I would not have seen Ben joyfully walking/running ahead and hear him say "I love this" or experienced the quiet strength and grace that is Sam. And I would have missed being in the moment, smelling the fresh air and feeling the sun on my face.
For this I am blissfully thankful. I hope every one found joy on this Thanksging Day, 2012.
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