I can't believe a year has gone by since my last birthday. I feel like I can remember each day of the past year vividly because every day was so good. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that this past year has been the best one yet in these 19 years.

I went on 2 great backpack trips this week with some really incredible kids. I went rock climbing with the coolest 6th grade girls ever and drank some Martinellis at a beautiful lake looking at the mountains. Then I climbed to the top of a mountain and ate a tasty pineapple with some of the quirkiest 8th grade boys ever. I can't ignore the beauty of this place. The wildflowers are out now. The meadows that are tucked away in the trees are breathtaking sights of color and light.

After dinner tonight, my friend and I drove into town about an hour away. At Borders, I found a HUGE Dinosaur book for only 20 bucks. Huge--like a coffee table book bigger than a coffee table. It is so cool. And tomorrow, I am going to wake up when I feel like it, drink a cup of tea, then go to a meadow filled with wildflowers and read my book about St. Francis of Assisi, pick some flowers and put them in my house, then I am going to run to some water and swim around for a bit, nap on the rocks, and run back to camp.

I wish everyone I love could come join me on my small birthday adventure tomorrow. But, all those I love are part of me, I guess...and essentially will be part of every birthday of mine.
How 'bout we make a deal? If you see a meadow, will you stop what you are doing and run around in it and spin in circles for a bit for me? So...you'll be five minutes late for work. or you'll get your shoes wet. good. smile and enjoy some little things in life.

While I have a pretty sweet job that I think I have written about a bit... I also have some sweet little adventures on the days I'm not working. I love having those 34 or 36 hours to plan the perfect day. Usually, a good day-off would involve getting away from camp, being outside, having good company (but not too much company), eating free or cheap food that is still tasty, doing something that tires me out enough that I sleep well, but also having plenty of energy to survive during the week.

Example: Yesterday, I got off around 4-ish. And it is really stinkin' hot...so I go for a quick little swim in the lake and have some lovely conversation with the company, eat some homemade ice cream, take a quick little nap, get dinner ready for everyone, play some crazy hat bingo and then plan on going to bed. But...no, it is only 10:30 pm and we are still young, so hey, let's walk down to the lake and swim some more. Back by midnight. Time for bed.

Woke up today. There's this road called Beasore (Bay-shore) that is basically the entrance to the back country. It is a windy, up-hill, mountain road. About 15 miles up this road, there is a place called the Jones Store. It is a small community, and they have a little store with all the necessities...Food (Homemade pie!!), Beer, and Soda. So, a few friends and I loaded our bikes into the back of a truck and drove up to the Jones Store. We all had a coke and talked with Mr. Jones while his wife baked some pies. We used the outhouse, then hopped on our bikes and headed downhill back to Bass Lake. We FLEW downhill. flew. I wasn't sure I knew how to fly...but I do. I found myself laughing and screaming with joy nearly the whole way down. So I met the other 3 at the bottom...but while this ride was thrilling and joy-inducing...we didn't really work at all. So, we decided to bike the 13 miles around the lake to finish out the adventure. Came back and laid down on a little hill. ahhhh. time to relax.

Example 2: My last day off, a couple of friends and I hiked up this place called washer-dryer. It is part of the river where there are lots of rocks and water. We found a lovely place where there was a little rock slide and whirlpool and we could play around in the water, then take a nap on the rocks and read a bit.

AND, today I have decided I never want to take a day-off for granted. There are way too many adventures to be had, places to go, people to meet, and people to enjoy life with to take a day for granted. It is a pleasure to work hard everyday (especially in a job like this), and then celebrate life a little bit on a day-off.

So, the summer is halfway through. Time to re-think and re-evaluate the rest of it. Let's begin with a quick dip in the lake!