The Trail’s Calling Me

January 27, 2018 by JoAnna 41 Comments

As I sit writing this, comfortable in my bed, I would like to drift off to sleep, to dream…

But some day, I’m going to BLAZE a trail again. I’m going to put one foot in front of the other and find my hiking rhythm with the trees going by, fresh and green, pine needles under foot, senses all open to everything at once. My breath comes strong and steady with my legs working like they were made to work. The air feels crisp and pungent with life. I am part of that life, part of the forest, part of creation. The path ahead beckons to me. Will there be deer? Will it rain? Will the sun set before I get back home? I don’t care! I am here now, ready, alive. I approach Sugarloaf, the giant sand dune of oaks and pines, and climb up. My breathing becomes harder. My legs start to ache, but I am strong. I am alive! I reach the top. My heart beats faster, blood flowing where it needs to go, opening my arteries, clearing out the gunk.

I survey the slope descending to the river and remember how my children used to run down the hill to the water. Sometimes they’d roll down and get all sandy. Sand everywhere. But it didn’t matter because they laughed. I ran down that hill myself a few times. Now they have it fenced off to protect the hill, prevent erosion. To be careful. I could run down the hill anyway. But, now, I’m 62. I could break something.

I take the path down to the river. Not exactly running, but with a light step and a quick pace, aware of the turns and the places to put my feet so I don’t fall. I reach the water and run in. Clothes and all. It’s cold! And I am alive again.

Someday, I’ll go on that hike again. Someday, maybe I’ll hike on the Appalachian Trail. I best better start practicing by walking around the block to the park in my neighborhood.

Here are more pictures of my beloved maritime forest. It’s been too long since I set foot there.

 

Me and Doodle on top of Sugarloaf

A mushroom has found shelter on the dune.

There are not many hills around here, so this is special.

Today’s Stream of Consciousness prompt from Linda Hill was, “movement.” But we were not to use the word, “movement,” just choose some sort of movement and write about it.

For more information on the Saturday Stream of Consciousness, visit:

https://lindaghill.com/2018/01/26/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-27th-2018/

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!