My name is Kathy Nickerson, and I live on Mercy Street – physically and figuratively.

Climbing Mountains (or at least tall hills)

May 31, 2010 Kathy 6 Comments

On top of Independence Rock

Today, I climbed a mountain. Well, it probably only qualified as a hill. I’m not sure it was ever measured by an Englishman. But, it was a mile-high masterpiece for me. I’m not particularly athletic. (If any of my siblings are reading this, they are now lying on their respective floors, holding their bellies, and howling with laughter over that understatement.)

I’m telling you, I could feel the plaque rushing out of my arteries as we climbed. And I was thinking what an amazing feat for someone who lacks only six months of qualifying for the senior citizen discount at fine dining establishments and movie theaters. I was jazzed!

Lately, I’ve been uncomfortably aware of my age. I always thought I’d age gracefully and embrace the autumn season of life with all its benefits and glories. Instead, I’m noticing how quickly I wear out every day. I’ve been a little worried that maybe I really have gone over the hill and I’m on the downward slide in life.

But not today!!! Today I climbed straight up that hill and stood on the top, braced against the wind. (Well, Wendell braced me, but I stood.) It  was thrilling and encouraging and made me believe I still had other goals to reach.

I came off that rock feeling forty years old! So, I decided to race our five-year-old granddaughter on the perfectly smooth sidewalk on the totally flat ground of the nearby rest stop. Fortunately, I didn’t break anything in the fall.

Here’s to more mountains!!!

happy endings

6 Comments → “Climbing Mountains (or at least tall hills)”

  1. Serenity 1 year ago  

    I love this post! Yay for feeling forty! (Though wasn’t it only a few years ago that you still felt eighteen?) :) I’m so proud of you for climbing and for running and for bracing against the wind. I’m very inspired.

  2. Carol York 1 year ago  

    You go Kathy!! Even the falling down part, because if we never fall down, we don’t know what it feels like to get back up and going again… :-)

  3. Kathy 1 year ago  

    So true, Carol. Thank you.

    And Seren, I did feel eighteen only a few years ago. On a normal day right now, it is probably thirty :)

  4. Judy 1 year ago  

    What a wonderful accomplishment! I am proud of you!

  5. Summer 1 year ago  

    So true, Carol. Thank you.

    And Seren, I did feel eighteen only a few years ago. On a normal day right now, it is probably thirty :)

  6. Lilly 1 year ago  

    I love this post! Yay for feeling forty! (Though wasn’t it only a few years ago that you still felt eighteen?) :) I’m so proud of you for climbing and for running and for bracing against the wind. I’m very inspired.

Leave a Reply