I Must Be Getting Old

Fields of wildflowers opened up on the sides of the road as we cycled by. Cornflowers, Queen Anne’s Lace, Indian Paint Brushes, Buttercups and Pink Clover all swayed in the breeze. Zippy, pert yellow birds darted ahead of us allowing us to give them chase.
We spent the day slipping between raindrops and sneaking under heavily laden clouds, that created a striking contrast to the colorful flowers and birds. When the heck did I get so corny? I must be getting old, but if this is what happens it is not so bad.

Or, it maybe because I am exhausted. We cycled 67 miles today, over rolling hills, around Burlington, Vermont and all the way to the Grand Isle State Park located on one of the islands in the middle of Lake Champlain. It was quite a ride.

Our appetites have kicked in and both of us are eating like bull dozers. We started The morning with an apple-pancake scrambled mash that never quite cooked, ( I think you can’t add hot water to pancake mix) Finding that wholely unsatisfying, we then stopped for custard-filled cinnamon buns and huge breakfast sandwiches on farmer buns. Then came ice cream. Oakley added 2 granola bars and a snickers bar and a coke, as well as, some chocolate covered pretzels. Now we are preparing beans and rice for dinner. The hunger we feel is vast. What a treat to eat with such reckless abandon.

Last week a client of mine and I were discussing her feelings of anxiety. She said she had come to terms with it recently, and almost felt grateful. “If it were not for my anxiety, I would not get to feel brave everyday.” It made her anxiety seem more like her superpower than her liability.

I think Oakley is my super power. Without all his crazy antics and restless energy, and even his misbehavior, I might not have an excuse to be out here. I am so grateful that I do. He is the best excuse ever. Now time to eat…again.