Perfect

WOW what a day!! Ed made the comment that there are a handful of perfect days each year and today is one of them. It of course helps that we led into it with a late dinner at O’Faolain’s where we had wonderful food, and met Kevin another manager who is just as Irish, cute and friendly as Justin and Frances. Then when we got home the air was so clear we could see the Milky Way. We slept with the windows open to awake to an almost cold morning, breezy dry air and perfect temps for our walk.

We went over to Sugarloaf Mountain and parked just down from the square (which was full) on Mt. Ephraim Rd. and headed up the “down” road of the mountain to the East View parking lot. This road is a good bit steeper than the “up” road but prettier. From the parking lot we started off on the 1/4 mile steep Orange trail to the mountain top where we popped over to where the view out across the land is wonderful. We figured we could easily see at least 40 miles. There was a guy sitting there on a rock facing away from the view staring at his iPad!! Never looked up once. I just don’t get it!

From there we headed off the backside of the mountain down the Red, to Blue, to White, and then Blue trail again. The morning light was playing through the leaves, some of which have started to show color (brought on by both September and drought) and the breeze made them dance which created waving shadows. I was actually giggling as I played the rock hop game that I taught Scott & Kevin so many years ago (walking fast, from rock, stone, and/or pebble, for as far as you can without losing your balance and stepping on roots or dirt ground) . From the Blue trial we hooked up to Mt. Ephraim Rd and walked back to the van. We figure about 5 1/2 to 6 miles of road and trail in just about 2 hours.

On the drive over to the mountain looking at the glorious morning I had heard my mother’s voice telling one of her favorite stories. Once there was a poor orphaned shoe shine boy, whistling, smiling and cleaning shoes for pennies, when a man asked him ” Look at your life, why are you so happy?” The boy looked up at the man and said, “Why sir, I have never lived THIS day before.”

Along the last bit of the Blue trail we came upon a women walking 4 leashed dogs of varying sizes. Leading the pack, by a lot, tail wagging, nose to the ground sniffing along, a grin on his face, was a yellow lab. A 3 legged yellow lab!

All I could think was no matter what the difficulties, heart ache, or daily worries… I have never lived this day before and isn’t it just wonderful!