Adventure Day One

Today started with a reminder from a friend who said, “Your job today is — be kind and loving to yourself.”

That’s exactly what I did. Day One of our Adventure Sisters getaway to Palm Springs.

For lunch, we stopped at a fabulous diner in Palm Springs called Kings Highway. I noticed the young man serving us had scrapes on his forearm. I asked, “Are you a skater or biker?” He answered, “I’m a biker.” He was taken aback and thought I was grossed out by his scabs. He apologized. “No, it’s totally fine! It reminds me of my son. It’s a good thing.” Chandler ALWAYS had some evidence on his body of a recent conquest — of concrete or water or a mountain.

After lunch, we rode the Palm Springs tram up to Mount San Jacinto State Park. I clung to my friend’s jacket the whole way up and tried to pretend not to be nervous and sweating profusely. I can ride crazy rollercoasters and spinning rides — no problem. All my life, I’ve had issues riding those trams that hang on thin cables way above the ground. Somehow our tram didn’t fall off the cable, and we made it to the top for our hike.

When we hike, we do it the right way. Hike. Stop. Enjoy the view. Hike some more. Stop and climb some rocks. Have a snack while enjoying the view. We are not in a hurry. The journey is as important as the destination.

I thought of Chandler often. He felt at home hiking, climbing, enjoying the view. He savored the journey.

The big box hanging on the cable safely carried us back down the mountain, and we spent the evening together laughing, chatting, and filling ourselves with a variety of scrumptious foods.

Thank you, God, for a day with friends in nature doing one of the things Chandler loved most. Thank you for helping me follow my friend’s advice to be kind and loving to myself today. It’s been a good one.