One river, two games
Only 200 yards down the trail, our children (ages 12 and 14) opted off the trail. They jumped from rock to rock, scampering along the edge of Beaver Creek. One moved quickly, the other a bit more cautiously, but both with the enthusiasm and agility you might expect.
This was gratifying. Because their reaction to my “Let’s go for a hike!” suggestion was less than energetic. Now, as I anticipated, they relished in the experience.
Essentially, they engaged in a hearty game of “Catch Me If You Can.”
So did we.
The roots, rocks and slippery trail surface posed a challenge for my wife. Deftly, she picked her way along the trail. And most of the way, we held hands in a quite different potential version of “Catch Me If You Can.”
The crisp January air refreshed our lungs as the soothing sound of the gurgling stream set an acoustic backdrop for our hike. Deep in the hinterland of southeastern Oklahoma, we ambled along.
And no one fell. So everybody won.
Worth Repeating
All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
-Havelock Ellis
