Same job, different uniform.

Monday, July 14, 2008

When I'm 83....


I hope I'm still climbing mountains. I just returned from basically a month of traveling. I went to Seattle for 5 days last week with some girlfriends and one of the days we climbed Mt. Index, which I believe is called the Lake Serene trail.
About two miles into the trail you can keep going or take a 1/2 mile "detour" to see Bridal Veil Falls. (Which was AMAZING, by the way.) An elderly woman was making her way down the trail as we were going up. She was precariously trying to negotiate the the uneven, rocky, steep trail. We made a little small talk and came to find out it was her 83rd birthday and her husband, who was 92, was hiking all the way to the top of the mountain. WHAT??? I mean, we were all amazed! Our initial reaction was to be a bit peeved at the husband for celebrating her birthday in this manner. Happy Day!! Have fun putting your life at risk! I think I'll leave you to the slippery rocks, while I traverse the rest of this difficult trail and put my life (the person you love most) at risk too.
But, I think after 60 years of marriage you don't care about those things as much. She was a trooper. She was very slow, but she gotter done. Once we passed her on our way down we kept notifying people on the way up, to keep an eye on her.
We passed her husband on our way up and down. Fortunately, we were arriving at the base of the trail just as he was and his wife, who had made it down the mountain a lot sooner than he, came up the trail as quickly as an 83 year old can and they embraced quite vigorously. You could see on her face a mixture of relief and pride. He looked happy but mainly totally exhausted. They walked hand in hand the rest of the way and after I wiped the tears from my eyes I asked if I could take their picture. They obliged, but were sort of self deprecating about it.
I'll say it again. I hope I'm still climbing mountains when I'm 83 AND that I can do it with my husband of 60 years.
It really impresses me when octogenarians are still taking life by the horns and not giving in to atrophy. Please let that be me.
Congratulations, you two lovely hikers, wherever you are.

Labels: , ,


SHARE THIS: Facebook | Stumble It! | Del.icio.us | DiggIt! | Technorati

5 Comments:

Blogger JEB said...




Amen, sister.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...




I love it. What a special memory for all of us. Lessons to learn and live by.

Raine

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...




Great story!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...




So is that really them that are pictured? What a great story.

You'll have those years. You and B, ribbing each other all the way up the mountain.

Friday, July 18, 2008

 
Blogger elphaba said...




Yes, that is the actual couple.
I'm hoping my hearing has gone by then.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

 

Post a Comment

<< Home