Fall Tradition

For weeks now, Ben has been preparing for our 2nd annual fall tradition - a hike at a park in Weston, about 45 minutes north of where we live. It's a beautiful hike along a river bluff, and in the fall, the colors are spectacular. We hiked it last year, and he couldn't wait to get back on the trail, this time with Amelia.

There was only one problem.

I didn't want to go.

Amelia had been sick with a terrible runny nose, and I had been sick with a runny nose, sore throat, cough, etc. etc. We were completely run down, and needed a restful weekend. The 2nd annual fall hike was not fitting into the schedule.

I was also tired of doing stuff I didn't want to do. At work all day, I do stuff I have to do. Then I come home and do more stuff I have to do. I just wanted a day of doing stuff I WANTED to do - like watching a movie or catching up with friends over the phone or vegging out to a mindless t.v. show. Maybe I could even fit in a nap! Not only were all of these things on my priority list, I also needed to go to the grocery store and make a Target run for school.

Again, hiking on a river bluff was not on my radar.

I also have this weird phobia about going too far from home. I don't know why, but the older I get, the weirder I am about this. I like being close to home. During the day, at night....whenever...being far from home (especially for something I don't like to do) makes me anxious and puts me in a bad mood.

And in a bad mood I was on that Sunday. As I packed some sandwiches, I vented to Ben about what a lousy idea going on this hike was. "A family tradition should be something everyone wants to do," I whined. "We should take a vote on family traditions." "Fine," Ben said. "I'll just take Amelia and the two of us will go on a hike and you can stay here."

But of course, I couldn't just stay home while they went on a hike. I would just sit and home and feel guilty the whole time.

So, I went. We drove the 45 minutes across and up town, and hiked. And...

It was beautiful.



And Amelia loved it.



And so did Ben.



And so did I.



And then we stopped at an apple orchard on the way home...



And it was amazing.



And the animals were so fun.




And the sun was shining.



And the rolling hills were awe-inspiring.



And it put me in the perfect fall mood.

And...

I ate my words, like I always do. Once Ben drags me out into nature, I always love it and have the most amazing time. I just have to whine and stomp and drag my feet before he gets me in the car and then we go and it's so awesome.

So, I apologize to God and Ben for throwing a fit about nature. Oh, and I apologize to Amelia too. Hopefully one day she will grow up and learn NOT to be a fit-thrower like her mother.



Lesson learned.

(Until next fall.)

(I'm just being honest.)

HOLLA -