I hadn’t talked to Courtney Blazon since March. Wow. March. We finally connected and decided we should do a social distanced hike together. She suggested Blue Mountain, and even though I had just gone there on my last hike I agreed because it is so vast. There are so many trails.
Here is a little map of the area. The blue is where Jorge and I hiked last time and the pink is where I think Courtney and I hiked. I am not entirely sure because I was too busy talking to pay attention.
Courtney brought both her dogs. Blue Mountain in general reminds me of a kids book that we read to Jorge a bunch when he was small. In it all these things happen with these dogs, but at the end they see a huge tree in the distance. What is up in that tree? It asks, and when the guys climb up there on the top there is a party. “A big dog party.” Blue Mountain reminds me of a big dog party.
It was so good to see Courtney. We talked like we had just seen each other. I love that about good friends. There is no awkward reacquainting.
We found two empty chairs.
And then filled them.
It was so good to see a friend. I really should be planning more hikes like this. But dang it feels hard. Why does everything feel so hard lately. I am truly worried about winter. Worried it is going to swallow me. Worried it is going to suck the marrow out of my bones and I will be hollow and fragile. I don’t know how to prepare myself. How do I reinforce an already weak me?