The View From the Top
In my teen years my family would take our horses on an annual trail ride up Forsyth Canyon of the Pine Valley Mountains. It was steep and filled with switchbacks, streams and fallen timber. At the top of the mountain we’d dismount for a picnic and sit on the highest cliffs on the mountain’s face and see forever. It was awe inspiring, but the path to get there was anything but easy.
Each summer I could have stayed in the lower valley and rode my bike around with my friends. It would have been fun, but not near as rewarding as taking that annual trail ride with my family. The view along the trail, and especially at the top, was always worth it – though it wasn’t always pleasant getting there.
You see, when I was around 13 and 14 years old, we had quite a few beautiful and strong horses . . . and one mule named Geraldine. This mule would only let one person ride her. Me!
Picture how embarrassing it was for a teenager to be riding through town on the back of a pint-sized mule following a train of six or seven beautiful horses. That wasn’t the worst of it. You see this mule was stubborn. I could never control her. We’d get on the trail and she would stop to munch the sweet mountain grass while the rest of the family continued up the trail.
Try as I might, kicking, whipping, hollering, Geraldine was oblivious until she looked up and noticed the other horses had passed beyond her sight. She was off like a bolt, dashing up the trail to catch the other horses. But she didn’t stop there. She blasted past the others, all the while I’m hollering, “Look out, here we come!” until we passed them a ways on up the trail. Geraldine then stopped to munch the grass again, acting as if nothing had happened.
This was repeated several times during the ride. I couldn’t change it. Finally I just settled in and enjoyed it with the rest of my family. If you’re going to be a laughing stock, you may as well join in.
With all the stops and starts, and yes, the joke of it all, it was still worth the trip. The view from the top was indescribable. It was made even more memorable by being with those I loved.
Sometimes life’s path is pretty steep, filled with stops and starts you can’t control. But the view from the top is indescribable, especially if you’re sharing it with people you love.
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