I woke up this morning with the sun beginning to paint the sky and I thought back to yesterday morning…
My first thought was: I did it! I did something I had been wanting to do – something I had planned to do ten years ago – but ten years ago I had a new baby, I had a new daughter in law and lots of other things going on. But I still had this goal – this “thing to do!” in my life. Now, for many, this wasn’t that momentous a goal – it wasn’t something of a ‘big deal’ to them and, over the years, some have laughed when I shared this goal of mine. I don’t know if it was bcz they saw me a I am now? Or as they think I am now or what? I don’t know. They didn’t know me when I was younger… didn’t know I loved to tap dance, I loved trampoline and tennis and swimming, I was cheerleader, I taught preschool, I was a cook… and on and on. So, lots of my life in the last thirty years has been defined, in large measure, by what I used to be.
It’s that way now. Now, I sit with women who are pregnant or have new babies and I join in their conversations…and their sentences begin, and are punctuated with, “I am…” — but mine begin and are punctuated with, “I used to…”
I used to do a lot of things and so, I guess that’s why I have been taking a hard look at my “bucket list” over the last few years. Instead of a new list — a list of stuff I hope to accomplish before I die, I’ve sort of been considering all the stuff I’ve done and then have been thinking: well, okay… so all that happened; what do I want to be sure and do, see or say in my lifetime. Well, one of those things was this goal… this goal to climb Mt. Pilchuck. I know I’m not talking about a big deal for many – but for me it was a big deal – a big deal bcz I didn’t even know what it actually entailed, it just looked hard. I look out my livingroom window and see this mountain – and from here, seeing that 5324′ peak has been such an amazing site – and I have often thought: I’m going to climb up there.
Well… I did it! And now, as I look out this morning, I see that peak and say: Thank you, Lord, I did it!
look ma, no hands!!
from the look out tower at the summit – 5324′ :o)
on our way back down the mountain
Here’s a photo of Mt. Pilchuck from a distance.
