The truck door slammed shut. Out hopped four girls, my wife and a dog. After a quick check to ensure everybody had a water bottle and was wearing sunscreen, we walked to the trailhead and started climbing the mountain. Our goal was Louie Lake—a great place to catch a trout, relax for the day or otherwise unwind from life.
But, this reward of unparalleled beauty and relaxation was earned, not given. The hike was two miles, basically straight up with scrambles across boulder fields, small streams, and overgrown meadows. It always took a surprisingly long time to complete--at least an hour—or 30 minutes per mile. Not the pace we would normally achieve, but a pace we could manage without exhausting ourselves.
As we hiked ever upward, my wife and I had time to reminisce about the little moments that make life special and make some decisions we hadn’t had time to discuss at home.