Bishop's Peak with Graeme

"Hey Mom, do you want to come?"

Those are heavenly words coming from my son! I am in shock that he wants me to join him and the fact he thinks I can actually pull off the physical test of hiking up Bishop's Peak. Inside my head I am doing my "little happy dance" and quickly respond in case he changes his mind.

"Sure, I would love to come."

We drive up to the beginning of the trail and because my son was born under a lucky star, there is one parking space open at a spot closest to the trail head! All the other spots were filled as the road snakes its path down the hill for one mile! A good sign for the start of our hike. Maybe I won't fall off the edge or bust a knee cap....

We leave our water bottles behind because we don't want to carry the weight (which is later regretted of course) and start following the well worn marked path leading up the mountain. We pass wood fencing, barbed wire fencing until it is open pasture with signs dotted along the way to warn hikers to stay on the path and preserve the natural habitat. Hikers coming down the mountain look a little breathless and sweaty but are smiling and laughing as they dodge the rocks, muddy puddles and wild purple heather sprouting by the side of the path. Graeme and I give the customary friendly nod of greeting as we pass them and keep heading up the trail.

At a break in the trees, we look down the mountain at an incredible view. We are looking at nature's paint store for the color green: moss, olive, celadon, asparagus, hunter, kelly, emerald, viridian, tea, jade, persian,pine, lime, forest, and sage greens! It was breathtakingly beautiful in a 360 degree kaleidoscope of living color! Due to the visual feast, we periodically stop along the way to enjoy it from different angles.

The last part of the hike is in full sun and the switchbacks get more serious along with the intensity of the sun. Where is our water...oh, that's right, back in the car. Great. At the top, Graeme wants to climb to the top of the biggest rock and my view is cast over to the nice, quiet, wooden bench two steps away. He convinces me to accept his challenge and I didn't want to look weak and namby-pamby, so, taking a breath I look up to where I needed to place my feet. Hoping the gum I stuck on the bottom of my shoes would work miracles, I climbed vertically up rocks to get to the top of the world...it was one of those moments. A moment where you thank God for living and for living it with your son.

On the way down, we passed more people who looked like we felt, happy to be alive and appreciating nature's color palette. It was amazing to see so many people outside and their eyes not locked on computers, TV or video games. It looks like the earth's stewardship is in good hands with the younger generation.

It was a sweet moment with my son. I will remember it forever. I am also very lucky that he wants to do things still with his mother. My walk with Graeme was a gift, and I will treasure it in my box of memories I am creating as I move thru life now.