Hiking

I like hiking. I love getting into the woods, following the twists and turns of an interesting trail, catching the occasional panoramic view or natural detail. I don’t mind the exercise, though I only notice it when I think about hiking, now
while I’m doing it. I’m happy going with others or on my own.

Until this year most of my camping and hiking went on hold. It was simply too hard to do with a couple of little kids who insisted on complaining about every step we took. Lately the kids have changed their tune. They seem a bit more willing. At least the girl is. The boy still fusses, but the boy is always fussing about something.

The thing is, I’m not a nature lover. I don’t trust nature. There really are bears and hornets, and rattle snakes and other things in the woods that wouldn’t mind taking a bite out of you. Now and then I’ve felt a kind of condescension for people who seem to think of nature as not only benign, but loving. Frankly, I think Mother Nature is a bitc….um… she doesn’t suffer fools gladly.

So I might glow a little while I’m hiking, but you won’t catch me looking all starry eyed while talking about the woods, nature, or any of that junk.

What do you think? Is nature best at all times? Would you like to be a trapper from a couple hundred years ago, a free spirit in the woods? Would you rather hang out at Starbucks? Or is home the best place to be?