Then over the edge I went!

What a day!

My cell rang at six this morning.
I popped up,
grabbed my things
and hit the shower.
Before seven,
I was dressed;
shared donuts with my sis
and left some off for my kids.
With a grin on my face,
I headed South,
taking a detour
before I headed to Hocking Hills.
I daydreamed as the sun crept over the horizon.
Happily, I turned on to a lovely road in Southern Ohio.
Chuckling,
I called my favorite number
and woke a very special man up.
I shared some tea
and my excitement over the coming day.
Then, collecting a kiss and a hug,
I hit the road and headed East.
I pulled into the State Park rappelling area right on time.
After meeting up with the leader and group,
we picked up the gear and headed up into the forest.
The path was steep and unbelievably beautiful.
Rocks,
tree roots,
colorful leaves,
moss
and even towering rock faces...
I sighed...
smiled
and
felt grateful to have been invited.
Later,
after stepping off the side of the rock...
climbing up again...
only to step off again....
My body was tired,
but the satisfaction in my heart...
Was something that is still with me as I write to you.
New friends...
a new experience...
Wow...

Thunderstorms

Yesterday afternoon,
I got an email from the Hike Ohio Meetup group I belong to.

It was a reminder of the hike today at Battelle Darby Park.

I had yet to RSVP and it was reminding me.

Knowing I had child care for Saturday,
I clicked "Yes" and decided in a moment to attend.

The four mile hike was just what I was looking for to leave the week behind.

To soak up the solitude that I can only find outdoors.

This morning I could smell the rain on the wind.
I could feel the moisture in the air.
I decided to trek across town anyway.

By lunch,
it was raining....
actually storming...
but,
my resolve was set.

With a last minute email saying the leader would be there "just in case",
I headed out.

Characteristically,
map quest and I didn't get along.
Add in that I wasn't sure which park entrance to use.
(feel free to sigh and shake your head here
all you non directionally challenged friends...
I really don't mind.)
I ended up almost fifteen minutes late.
As I entered the area,
I saw several vehicles leaving and I figured
that I had probably just missed my hiking buddies.

I was correct.
There was no "Hike Ohio" sign,
no friendly faces waiting.

Thinking about this as I rounded the parking circle,
I pulled into a parking spot and stopped my car.

With a sigh,
a chuckle,
and an acknowledgement to myself of how crazy it was...

I decided to hike anyway.
In the downpour...
all by myself...

I saw a heron fly as I dallied by the water's edge.
I saw a thistle blooming with a delicate purple hue.
I became increasingly wetter.

I marveled at the way Virgina creeper and poison ivy can take over a tree trunk...
and I decided that I would definitely carve my name on a tree someday.

It is just something I want to do...
even if I do it...
all by myself.

While I freely admit that hiking solo is not an amazingly brilliant idea...
I had a talk with God while I was walking and beseeched him to have pity on me...
to get me back safely from my hike... even if it was a silly thing to do...

I am back home typing,
wrapped in my robe,
drying out.

Feeling the peace and silence of the forest,
still wrapping me in calm.

I am thankful for the time today,
to relax,
to step away from the world,
to set the issues of my life down for a while...

I pray that you and I...

That we will find happiness in the blessings around us.
My heart is filled with gratitude for the drenching rain that soothed me today.
I pray that you are given what you need as well...
even if you'd prefer your "peace" delivered in a drier method!