Give and Take

We (Terri, the 2 younger guys, Mom & Dad, and I) just spent the past 4 days North of Atlanta in the Middle of the Chattahoochee National Forest.  The cabin we stayed at for the second time is a little home about 1/2 way down hwy. 60 between Blue ridge and Suches.  This picture is one of the creek that is not more than 25 feet from the front porch.  It's sounds will sing you to sleep and its water are crystal clear so that you can see the fool's gold littering the streambed.

This trip for me was a lesson on what I am and what I am not.  I learned that I am very comfortable in the mountains, living a little more simply and apart from large numbers of people.  I also learned that I am NOT meant to live in Atlanta.  There is something about that town that, for me at least, oozes stress and anxiety.  We had to go through the ATL on the way in and during that part of the trip I found out my car has a cooling issue.  We were there for a gym meet that my son was competing in on Saturday, and so were 50,000 cheerleaders, their coaches, parents, and there make-up support staff.  We found out that they were there when we tried to go the last 2 miles of the drive to the meet on Saturday.  That 2 miles took an hour, not exaggerating, an hour.  Terri and Jac actually walked the last mile and a half while we fought through the traffic.  They made it there about 20 minutes before mom and I did.  It took a lot of effort to bring me back down off the emotional ledge that evening.  The drive back through the mountains did it, that and the laughter that we shared in the car on the drive back (thanks Mr. Bag).  

The next morning it was in the teens and the sky was crystal clear.  Coffee is just better in the woods.  The dogs were absolutely having a ball.  All day Friday Alexandra and Jac were in the woods out back exploring.  Rocks look better in the woods.  There were pockets of ice all along the stream.  The kids found walking sticks and poked at all sorts of stuff.  Sticks are better in the woods.  

On the way home today we drove out through the forest heading SE.  If the road was a twisting snake coming into the cabin from the NW, then the road to Suches and Dahlonegah was like a tangle of snakes.  We took time to stop and smell the views on the way out, I kept thinking I wish I was on my bike.... except it was 25 degrees.  

The best part of the trip was seeing my son compete.  He had a really rough competition, but through it all he kept on giving what he had to give.  In the end he came away with a 6th place in one event, but he pushed through and in the end he had a positive outlook toward the future.  

Attitudes are better in the woods.