GLORIFIED WALKING

When my husband first asked if I wanted to go on hike I thought he was joking. Or talking to someone else. I was confused...had he met me? Did he understand the kind of woman he’d married?

Let me be crystal clear. I. Am. Not. A. Hiker! Honestly, I’m barely even a walker.

And then he started talking about the views, and spending time with the kids, and what great exercise it was. That last part fell on deaf ears, but the rest…it sounded, well, okay. I like views. And I like my kids. So whatever the reason, I decided we should do it.

So I made a list because although I’m not a hiker, I’m a list maker. We packed up: lunch, water, toilet paper (just in case), bug spray, sunscreen, binoculars, etc. Next, we mapped the trail we would take and even let our two older kids bail on us. Fine, whatever, we were left with the one kid who’s still young enough to admit that she loves us.

And you know what, I have to admit, it was spectacular! We hiked four miles on one of the trails at the base of Mount Rainier National Park, and because I am who I am, even our pictorial was seldom serious. But the views were…well, you can see:

The funniest thing we heard all day (from our daughter, of course): I think I wanna get some Nun-chucks. (Umm, I don’t think so.)

The funniest thing we saw all day (on the way home, on the side of the highway): One of those afro-rainbow clown wigs. Just lying there. Hmm, I can’t help but wonder what happened to the clown? If we stopped, would we have found his nose, maybe some floppy shoes, a clown corpse?

The most valuable lesson I learned (after leaving the mountain and calling my son to check in.) He didn’t answer so I left him a voicemail, and this was the text I got in return: I’m at home. And btw I’m a 17 yr old boy, I don’t check voicemail. (Good to know. Good to know. I’ll just chalk that one up to more YA research.)

I think that was one of those views he was talking about!


Overall, I left the mountain with no fewer than a dozen bug bites, calf muscles that scream with every step I take, and a really cool sock-tan just in time for my trip to the SCBWI conference in LA (awesome!).

So would I do it again??? In a heartbeat!