the best day

In the interest of amusing people with my dramatic exclamations, I must say that August 22 was the best day of my life. And so it was decided on the way home from our visit with the lovely Laura Cosby and son, Ryland, last week. We picked blackberries, nearly 2 gallons! And for a while, as Laura and Leslie picked, I kept an eye on the 2 month old chunk of beautiful baby…okay, so I didn’t just look at him, I held him and held him and he fell asleep, fast asleep in my arms…Oh, there is nothing more delightful on this earth!
Preceding the blackberries and baby, Leslie and I had gone climbing at Fresno Dome - a rarely visited huge hunk of granite protruding high above the trees about an hour from where I live. Most people go to Yosemite with all the other people to climb. Not a bad idea given the vastness of the place and choices of climbs, but it was nice to have this place virtually to ourselves. It was my first multi-pitch climb, though only rated at 5.6 (which is about the easiest climbing one would do with a rope, I think…). It was actually fun and challenging. Prior to August 22, climbing has been a nerve-wrenchingly unpleasant experience for me for the most part. In fact I was at that same climb a year ago, but without the emotional reserve or mental stability to face the challenge. So, I remained with Leslie at its base in tears. Returning there last week and finding myself not only capable of facing the challenge but enjoying the experience as well has compelled me to spend some time reflecting on the journey of this year since I first visited Fresno Dome.

There have been numerous times this past year when I have felt as if I could barely keep from drowning in whatever circumstances were depleting my being of life-giving energy. I am surprised and thankful to be able now to reflect with more clarity...or even just a different perspective. It has been a year full of conflict, both within me and among me and others. It has been exhausting and disappointing as such. However, nonetheless enriching...not so much with berries and babies, but with the same simplicity of flowers and friendships. Half way through the year I was able to switch jobs and begin working part time at a delightful little flower shop in a quaint little part of San Diego. My relationships with people over this past year have deepened in ways that would probably not have happened under...more pleasant circumstances. I love, especially, the way living with a person can enhance a relationship so beautifully. I got to live with 5 very special friends in 3 different households this last year before I moved up here to Bass Lake - Kelly and David and Ester and Cassie and Brian Lewis-Beevers - friends who no doubt helped keep my head above water...with lots and lots and lots of laughs...in retrospect these memories of friends and flowers seem to completely overshadow whatever difficulties we faced. It helps me remember that the seasons are always changing - that in the midst of these changes tragedy and comedy are always present - maybe sometimes it's just a matter of perspective. I'd like to think that this season's climb at Fresno Dome is evidence of that...