A walk in the park

Ryan finally convince Kate to come with him up to the foothills. It was an annual trip he used to take with his Dad ever since he could remember. But when his Dad died from a heart attack three years ago, Ryan made the trip as a pilgrimage on the same weekend every year, as something he could remember him by.

When he met Kate he knew that getting her outdoors would be a challenge. A suburban girl, her family never really left the city as she was growing up. In PE, she picked all the sports that allowed her to stay indoors, and carried through with women's volleyball into college. A wonderful woman who cared for Ryan, the great outdoors just simply was not Kate's cup of tea.

After months of subtle coaxing, many trips to REI for the newest gear, and plenty of assurances that they would not be eaten by a rabid bar, he was able to convince her to make the annual trip to the Great Smoky Mountains with him. In late April, the park is bursting forth with new growth and the creeks are running full with water the color of crystal. She was overjoyed at the sense of closeness that nature made her feel for Ryan. Sharing a bottle of wine by the campfire, Kate felt she had never been more at home.

The rouged coals languished long after midnight.


-Grace

Thank you for visiting. Before you go, please submit a story idea for me to munch on for the next post!