Eighteen Years as Us

Numbers for our weekend: Bruce turned 39, our marriage turned 18, we hiked 25 miles, gained 4520 feet in elevation, endured 100 or more stream crossings, 4 thunderstorms, 50 fallen trees, and carried 80 pounds of food, equipment, and water. We reached our limit halfway through yesterday, but marriage is continuous–we chose the loop trail just like we chose each other 18 years ago. And we’ll keep hiking, helping each other cross streams, build shelters, cook meals, and climb mountains, till the last limit of our lives. Happy anniversary!
 
 

Backpacker’s Dream/Dilemma

we strike the trail late
 met by an abundant blue
 (clouds can keep secrets)
 


lunch is disrupted 
 by stream-crossing detours
 (till we see our fault)
 


then comes rain and pain
 realizing we were tricked
 (the trail is longer)
 


camp set up quickly
 dinner wolfed, shoes soaked by grass
 (thunder moving in)
 
 hours in the tent
 thinking, how could it, why now?
 (tests of our marriage)
 


but the bag is warm
 and we have love and shelter
 (all a marriage needs)

For Your 39th: Solitude

celebrating us
 with a long walk in the woods
 (away from it all)
 


silence is golden
 when resting feet at sunset
 (your birthday present)
 


the breeze reminds me:
 i drove twenty-one hours
 to find this beauty
 


better than the beach:
 that grin on your face; these views;
 hard-earned sore muscles
 


thank you for crazy–
 (the long drive, the longer walk,
 another “us” year)

Day Twenty-Nine, Road Trip 2016

End of the road, by the numbers:
 
 Four girls, 6059 miles, 19 states, the nation’s capital, 7 state parks, 7 national monuments, 9 nights of camping, 2 hotels, 1 apartment, 1 beach house, 29 days… We are HOME!! Life is an adventure. Be your own driver!!
 
 

Day Twenty-Eight, Road Trip 2016

waffles fuel our view
 to ride into the sunset
 finding our way home
 
 

Day Twenty-Seven, Road Trip 2016

road trip starts to end
 with wide open river views,
 bridges to cross them
 
 


Kentucky burns bright
 holds together rebel groups
 and holds our heart tight

Day Twenty-Six, Road Trip 2016

Kentucky wins me
 with giant bookstores; ice cream;
 and sweet niece faces
 

 each night a red sun
 to lull us to country sleep
 on our road trip dream
 

Day Twenty-Five, Road Trip 2016

cousin love beats all:
 it spans a small continent
 and breaks the divide
 

Day Twenty-Three, Road Trip 2016

three-storied row homes,
 a riverfront fountain park,
 DC’s a winner
 
 

Day Twenty-One, Road Trip 2016

a cultural mix
 in language, architecture
 (our country’s center)
 


library of all
 holds too many gems to count
 a sight for sore eyes


best of both worlds:
 fusbol, patatas bravas
 right here in DC
 


best of all worlds:
 my family together, here,
 discovering this.