Free Parking

Last week something rare and amazing happened.  J had the day off. !
We celebrated by taking a gorgeous drive through the bright calico leaves to West Virginia, to hike along the C and O canal.  Yes.  Like the one in Monopoly!
We did not see any funny men with handlebar mustaches. But we did see a choo-choo train go across a bridge and into a tunnel! Which was so.awesome. that Little One momentarily forgot how cold She was.  And it was cold.  Almost bitter.  But it didn't stop the dogs from swimming in the river, and it didn't stop the air from being clear and fresh, or the sun from being bright and gilding everything in sight. 
We climbed the rocks and threw shells into the water.  We strolled the tiny town and had hot cherry cider on the terrace.  Where they were so kind as to give us the free service of branding our dog, when he backed into the propane heater.  (If you are from Tucson, AZ, you know that he can now drink at a  bar called the Meet Rack for free! Don't ask me how I know this).
Anyways.  Today I felt...cold.  But also, as I rode home with my doggies and daughter sleeping like angels in the back, and J's hand holding mine tight, and a tiny little person doing somersaults in my belly, I felt Thankful.
For a beautiful day and a lovely earth and a family that is all mine to experience it with.  For snot on my shoulder and slobber on my jeans, mud on my shoes and tiny feet tap-dancing on my bladder.  For sunshine and rock-skipping and hand-holding.

This is our 5th fall in this pretty place.  Our fifth time Passing Go, I suppose.  In between we've paid mortgages and luxury tax and utilities and come a long, long way it seems.  But on the way home from C and O I couldn't help but feel thankful.  We've collected a lot more than $200!  A couple dogs and a child and a half and a pocket full of red-yellow leaves and a Life.
I love this game.