Running with Grandma

Today would've been my grandmother's 86th birthday, had she not passed away on Thanksgiving Day last year. Given that Grandma was such an avid hiker, it was only natural that I took today, her birthday, to go for a run in one of her very favorite places: Rocky Mountain National Park.

I ran up the trail to Lake Ypsilon, sometimes in silence, sometimes greeting hikers on the trail.

The weather was gorgeous and there were an astounding number of wildflowers still in bloom, despite this being August. In short, it was a beautiful day.

Happy birthday, Grandma. I miss you.

Here is calm so deep, grasses cease waving.

Everything in wild nature fits into us,

as if truly part and parent of us.

The sun shines not on us but in us.

The rivers flow not past, but through us,

thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell

of the substance of our bodies,

Making them glide and sing.

The trees wave and the flowers bloom

in our bodies as well as our souls,

and every bird song, wind song,

and; tremendous storm song of the rocks

in the heart of the mountains is our song,

our very own, and sings our love.

-John Muir

See you on the trail!