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A Walk In The Woods


On Thursday, my job took a group of 25 kids, third, fourth, and fifth graders, on a hike. It was a short hike and part of the enticement was to find 100 little plastic monkeys. The monkeys were colorful and somewhat easily spotted, but had been strategically placed hanging from trees or hidden in holes made by woodpeckers, beavers, and other creatures of the wild. Oh yeah, and I got to hide them before work.

I'm writing this, not for any sort of acknowledgment, because I got to take the walk through the woods twice. Once alone and once with the kids. Both were enjoyable for different reasons, but the best part of the entire day was being able to do it; without pain. Being able to share in these activities means the world to me and despite my knees feeling it later that evening, just being able to do it gave me a joy few understand.

As I left work on Friday, my new assistant director thanked me for my hours put in and going the extra mile. She meant it metaphorically, but I felt compelled to tell her how much that "mile" means to me. I don't make a lot of money and I'm struggling to get by, but the ability to do what I love, alone and with others, means more to me than anything money can buy. I realize I'm getting too old to just get by and to live so frivolously, but I need this. It's a shame we can't all do what we love and get by.

I plan on taking this hike many more times this spring and summer. Alone, or with others. It will not only be a joy but for me, a privilege.

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