When your most vivid memories are of the blurry view out the window, it's time to slow down. I am grateful for phone picture reminders, but I also know when I'm pushing my family too hard. It was becoming more about the destination and not the journey. Within a week, we had traveled to so many national parks that even the rangers gave us the big eyed look of skepticism. The truth is that a drive-thru, visitor center stop and mini hike weren't filling our buckets. It became more about the race to fill in the junior ranger booklet rather than enjoying the spectacular views all around us. We hopped from Badlands to Crazy Horse to Mt. Rushmore to Devil's Tower to Yellowstone and to the Grand Tetons within a week. What we needed was some clarity and pause. The flexibility of never knowing where tomorrow was going to bring us became more stressful than relaxing. Yes, we could fit one more place in, but was it worth it? After the Grand Tetons, we decided to have some mini vac...
I can do hard things. It's not an original saying, but I often tell it to myself. I have a tendency to overestimate my skills in many ways, but hiking is the one I do the most. I grew up "hiking". Well, I grew up thinking that I went on hikes. What I learned out later in life on a real hike up Mount Adams is that I enjoy casual strolls through the woods. These casual strolls are often flat in nature and involve various changes in scenery like a fallen log to climb on or an old bridge to maneuver across. "Hiking" never involved much exertion or special clothing or footwear. "Hiking" never involved a change in gradient that continued to incline to what some nature folks refer to as a "peak". I am not a hiker, but I will never say no to a hike. I still dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail and whenever I wax poetic aloud, Loren always laughs and reminds of our hellish date on Mount Adams. Like I said, I'm not a hiker*. Every true hike I have...
I do not understand Canada. Despite this large country sharing a seat with us on the Americas bench, it still feels like a foreign mystery for me to visit. 1. Why is the currency named like cartoon characters? Loonies and Toonies? I don't understand. 2. Why is it Saskatchewan and not Saskatchewa? It feels like adding the n turns it into an adjective and not a noun. The grammar rules in my head are rage fighting right now. 3. The potato chip blends just break the mind. Doritos and Lay's are two separate entities, not one. This duo never needed to be a couple. The world doesn't need another Kimye. 4. Blueberries and sausage are not a pleasant looking combo. The raw links look like bruised doll legs. 5. What is Peavey Mart? I mean really, did they not just straight giggle when naming this mini mart? 6. They love pun named stores. I fully am behind this. 7. They have food brands for what will happen if you eat too much. For example, "FATSO" peanut butter. Say it like ...
Comments
Post a Comment