People who live in Vermont love to celebrate occasions, big or small, in nature with fun outdoor adventure. Paddle tennis and cocktails in the hut, a round of golf, a candlelit campfire in the woods, or in the case of our family....a hike. We like all of those other things and more but...hiking seems to the the thing the whole family enjoys. Don't get me wrong, we are not pros. We have one parent (cough, cough, not me) who can run up the mountain, we have lots of kids who can run up the mountain....and we have a few of us slower, asthmatics who bring up the rear. In fact, mama here is guaranteed to be wheezing herself up to the top.
Last.
Dead last.
We have one particular hike we love to do as a family. The location is known in our family as "the Mother's Day Hike". A few years ago, I realized that getting everyone dressed up and going out to a "nice" brunch-y type event was actually not really fun for any of us. The fun part for me, on Mother's Day is actually being with happy, smiling kids. Happy, smiling kids are most often wearing sneakers and sweats. Happy smiling kids are often out in nature. So that first year, we rounded up the cousins and our college age house guests and headed up our favorite hike.
This is an activity the whole family can enjoy. Little bouncy Finn literally pounces up and down the mountain.
Today is my husband Donald's birthday. Our son Adam suggested a birthday hike and we all were excited to honor his birthday in the special way. Parents, kids, dogs. All good. All so good. Especially on this beautiful October day.
My thoughts today are with my beloved mother-in-law Mame. Today is a celebration of her as well. I'm so grateful to her for giving me my wonderful husband. I'm sure she would have been so happy to see her baby enjoying his day. I bet she did.
We are at the stage in our lives where our children are out in the world creating their lives. How lucky were we today to have two of the older boys homes and hiking with their dad.
As we start to get older, and I start to face our mortality, I do think about the memories we are creating for our children. It brings me joy to think that celebratory hikes might have even the smallest impacts on our kids and their futures. I know how intensely grateful I am to go places and do things that remind me of my own parents. I love the idea that our own children may someday take their families on celebratory hikes.
Dinner tonight will be celebrated at one of our favorite old Vermont Inns. Roaring fire, hilarious favorite waitress Noonie, and an awesome feast. No sweats or sneakers. :) Tonight we dress them up.