The view from the trail going up to Waterrock Knob. The day before I chose to hike up Black Balsam Bald because it was an easier trek to the top and this trail was “strenuous.” After friends arrived, I forgot the description of Waterrock Knob trail and without thinking said, “That sounds like fun!” The views were beautiful, but the path was pretty much straight up and located on the side of the mountain.

I really don’t know what I want to say about this photo—a year of change. I went from blonde highlights to trendy Platinum (my choice of words). A  year of fresh hope and new beginnings. A year of decisions, of pressing on and a year of pressing through. Most of all, a year of letting go on my earth-bound control. A year of faith in the God, who never fails.

We followed a rugged pathway to the top of Waterrock Knob where the views were awesome. Funny thing: on the way up we kept asking people how much further is it to the top. Incredibly, we got a variety of answers. “Just a little longer.” “A few more steps and then it all flattens out, and you’ll be there.” Answers were: short, long, descriptive, and just plain wrong!  One man went into elaborate detail about how easy the hike was from where I stood!

The view was well-worth the energy I spent getting there. And at the top, the guy who led me to believe I was just a few easy steps away from the top apologized. (smile) I explained that I was not in shape after a year of Chemo treatments, and he looked oddly and said, “Me, too.” We talked for a few minutes and swapped stories and notes. I can’t begin to tell you how many people I meet, who have gone through treatments. I’ve yet to meet anyone who wants to give up or stop living. Sure, there is life after this but why not live life fully here and find a way to be “kind to strangers” along the way. (Double smile)

Even from the parking lot, the view was vast and so typical of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I’ve traveled a good bit and always find that right where I am at the moment is a fantastic place to be! So the quote from Shadowlands fits: Jack says, “Now I don’t want to be somewhere else anymore. Not waiting for anything new to happen. Not looking around the next corner, not the next hill. Here now. That’s enough.”

Pin It