Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Summers End

As I sat in the Adirondack chair, I may have appeared to be reading my book or napping, but  actually I was reflecting on the incredible summer I had just experienced.  I had said hello to many new friends, said good bye to an old friend, challenged myself beyond what I thought were my limits and seen sights that once I had overlooked. 
I will never forget my experience with the Stihl Tour des Trees; how could I ever think of forgetting all of the wonderful memories associated with it?  I play out those memories often in my sleep and in quiet reflection, could I have been faster, yes; could I have observed more, yes; will I do it again, hell yes.  From the first peddle to the last peddle it was monumental.  My boys often tell me how proud they are of me, that in itself makes me proud that I accomplished the ride; but every now and then I hear of how someone read my stories nightly and how I brought them along with me.  I am very thankful for that, and for those readers who followed me, stay tuned, lots of adventures are just waiting to happen. 
On the last leg of the bike ride, I received the one call we all do not want; the call of a loved one dying.  She was our first child, our practice child you may say; but now I think she wasn't our practice child, we were her practice children.  She taught me to love, care and to take moments in time to enjoy the time we have together.  It is hard watching a love one deteriorate but throughout it she never loss her joy for life.  Even when she could no longer walk one block to the park with us without going the pace of a snail, her tail would wag consistently and she would give it her all.  Whenever she saw her leash come out of hiding she knew she had to pull it together and give me her biggest smile; sadly towards the end though I knew she would not make it to the end without being sore for a long time, so she started staying home more often.  But when I returned an hour later she was still by that door and ready to walk around the yard with me and pretend in our own way that we had just completed a long walk.  At the end of her beautiful life she went surrounded with love and with her family; I can only be so lucky to go to heaven as she did.  But now she rests in heaven with all my other past loved ones and I await the time when once again we shall be reunited. 
Throughout the summer I traveled all over New York and Vermont and favorite thing about all those trips is of course the food and time with the boys.  I have a knack to find the best places for food, and its really good food.  My favorite place this year has to be the barbeque place in Brattleboro; if you have ever been there then you know the place.  It had the yummiest veggie sandwich I tasted all summer and  the company I had there was wonderful too.  I met Jeff's uncle Ken there and it was such a treat to really have a chance to talk with him and get to know him better.  I left the restaurant with a full belly and the appreciation of a wonderful gentlemen. 
Although I was on the road this summer alot, I made the most of my time with my boys.  They have truly grown into the most wonderful young gentlemen.  Everyday I am amazed at their love for nature, their friends and life itself.  As John was removing one of many fish he caught this weekend he would talk so sweetly to the fish telling it was okay, don't worry, I won't hurt you and then he would give it a kiss and throw it back in the river.  He is truly sent from heaven and I hope they don't want him back any time soon because I am going to hold onto him for a very long time and never through him back as he threw those fish back. 
Mathew has matured so much also and has become a wonderful young gentlemen.  He has started helping me around the house, helping his grandpa and grandma and really learned alot through reading and watching the Discovery Channel.  He is always checking up on me and making sure everything is alright, so much so I often wonder who the parent is and who is the child.  Seeing him and John on the last day of the bike ride gave me the energy to keep going, and to finish the ride so I could hold them in my arms.  When I go days without seeing them my arms truly ache for them, and nothing stops that ache till I have them close once more.
Along the way this summer though I truly tried to stop and smell the roses a little bit more.  I stopped for scenic overlooks and took the time to talk to complete strangers.  I learned more about the world around me than I ever thought possible.  As soon begins tomorrow and another season is in the past, I am not sadden over its loss; I am looking forward to the great adventures that await me in the next season.  Who knows maybe fate will throw me a curve ball and something new and exciting will come my way, something I never expected.  I await the next adventure with gleeful anticipation, how about you?