AnneLyze

Some people hike for the love of the outdoors, others for the exercise and then there are the "peak baggers" working on their patch.  Me, I pick where I am hiking next based on availability, what I'm physically capable of and the pure beauty to be found at the top of the peak on a glorious day and the flowers littered along the forest floor.  Since my 50th birthday, I have climbed four high peaks, three fire towers and a sundry of other mountains, for a grand total of fourteen peaks.  I'm getting stronger and enjoying the journey a little bit more each time. I'm learning as I go, some lessons harder than others, some obvious and others through experience, a few about the equipment and others about endurance, food intake and keeping hydrated.  It's been an education for me.  And it's as much about what I have learned about myself, as it has been the technicalities. So here goes. Never let the under 20 age group lead the hike unless you want to collaps...

The first call came in around 9:30 am, just as the treatment room was filling up with patients coming in for their Chemotherapy. "This is the school nurse calling from Albany High School.  I'm calling to tell you that your son punched a wall this morning and is now in my office.  His right hand hurts, is swollen and starting to bruise." "Can I please speak to my son?"   "Mom, my hand really hurts, can you come get me?"   "Why did you punch the wall?"   "It doesn't matter, we'll talk about it later."    "Okay let me talk to the school nurse again."  I hear the phone being handed over. "Is he in trouble?  No, then please send my boy back to class.  Give him some ice and send him on his way.  Thank you." And I hung up the phone.  Ben being an idiot does not equal urgency on my part.  I notified his father.  For the next hour my phone binged every few minutes as Ben urgently sent me text messages about ...

A couple of weeks ago I made a quick trip to NH to spend some time with the three most important women in my life.  I wrote this when I got home, but never got back to edit it and send out.  It was too special to simply discard, so here it is, late but written with love for Nancy, Martha and Mom. Thursday morning started with a very early drive to NH.  I was visiting my two sisters and my Mom and I was excited. In the morning I joined my sister Nancy for her daily hike to Beaver Pond with her dog Karma, a gentle, sweet golden retriever.  Hiking with Nancy means being part of her "gracewave", a place for feeling safe, peaceful and one with nature.  I quickly realized that the Beaver Pond Trail also meant being one with mosquitoes and ticks.  But it didn't stop us from enjoying the hike, each other, and the beauty surrounding us.  I always feel safe to share my struggles and my joys with Nancy and Thursday was no different and our time together was f...