Anniversary Run

Today Martha and I celebrated our 37th Anniversary by going for a run - what else could Highlands Roadrunner do?   We ended up running a little over 5 miles, laughing and talking, remembering the past and planning for the future.  It was Martha's suggestion that we run up Sunset Mountain, and so after the usual struggle (is there any summit worth climbing that does not come with a struggle?) we stood on top of the mountain that overlooks our little Town and celebrated this day and this place.  It is a place where we have often stood before!  Here is such a time, perhaps 25 years ago, when Katy was just a little child and my Mom and Dad were both alive:

I have so many good memories of climbing Sunset Mountain, and when I run up there I often think about all the friends and relatives (and dogs) who accompanied me there over the years.

We are about to embark on a great adventure!  But today was a day for re-connecting, for enjoying the beauty of nature, and for being grateful for each other and for being in this special place called Highlands. Neither of us could have imagined 37 years ago that today we would be living here, celebrating so many years - half a lifetime together - and running together on our Anniversary Morning.  I have 20 marathons behind me and Martha has three, and so many other memorable runs and hikes in addition.  We are truly blessed to be in such good health and to still enjoy one another's company after all these years.

Our great adventure is going to be a trip across America and back again.  The first half is a Mini Cooper event called Mini Takes the States, which will take us from Atlanta to Palm Springs with many many motoring Minis.  We have never met a Mini owner we do not like!

 

 After the trip ends in Palm Springs, we are on our own, and so we will meander up to Napa Valley, across the Golden Gate Bridge, along the beautiful California coast at Big Sur, eastward to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Sante Fe - all the many places we have longed to see.  For the benefit of my handful of followers, we will not be taking our laptops with us, but my intention is to keep a journal of our trip and continue this blog, day by day, when I return. 

And so our little blackboard in the kitchen holds a quote that my friend Benita sent to me (along with much good advice about New Mexico) which is a good place to begin: