What I’m Learning at 59: Leave Room for the Story

.☆. ☆. ☆.

I recently turned the young age of 59, which seemed like a good excuse to plan a few adventures and collect some new memories.

We planned 5 (five) days of back roads, audiobooks, fall thunderstorms, roadside diners, and 9 (nine) miles of hiking through North Carolina and Tennessee.

Naturally, we came home with 10.29 miles on the trail.

First stop — coffee!

Second stop — Seven Islands State Birding Park

The best parts weren’t always the things we scheduled. They were the unexpected turns, the weather, the wandering, and the simple joy of being somewhere new with my favorite traveling partner.

I’ve lived enough ordinary days to know I didn’t want to celebrate another milestone by having one. I’m grateful that I can still hike and am acutely aware that many people our age don’t have that opportunity.

Most of all, I’m thankful Scott is my person. He never asks when we’re headed home or, more importantly, how many hiking miles are ahead of us.

If I ever meet my end on a hiking trail, please skip the inspirational speech at my memorial.

Just tell the truth: I picked a questionable rock, underestimated gravity, and my final thought was probably, “Well… shit that took a turn.”

Next time, I’ll share our time at Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. And yes if you are curious there were a few rocks along our way and maybe a climbing cable too.