Introduction
Well, well, my last article was on 6/14/2017. My, how time goes by! Here I sit, plunking away again finally, on 3/21/2019. Earlier today, my “long-suffering” wife had a medical appointment. It was for a minor problem that was thankfully resolved. Today, we both have a day off from work. That is good! It gives me time to write.
The 6/14/2017 article was about my 138th hike on House Mountain on Mother's Day, 5/14/2017. As of Sunday, March 17, 2019, St. Patrick’s Day, I have hiked House Mountain 156 times. That hike was also my 20th so far with my surgically installed “bionics” (i.e., metal pins and screws in my left shoulder, right knee, and right foot)!
I had to pause writing for a few minutes. At about 3:30 PM, my wife came back from visiting her folks, who live about 3.5 miles away. I'm back now!
156th Hike on House Mountain
The two photographs below are from my 156th hike on House Mountain on Sunday, 3/17/2019, St. Patrick’s Day! This was the first time that I have had six humans and three dogs hike with me! The seven total humans were my youngest brother, his wife, and their two daughters; our niece; my wife; and me. The three dogs were Molly (our “old puppy”), my brother’s dog, and our niece’s dog. Enjoy the photographs!
By the way, life rolls on, day by day!
Dear Lord, let me die soon and easily to go home! My “bionic” joints are aggravating me too much!
What, Lord? Not yet?
Okay. Whatever.
I continue to endure my ongoing recovery. Hiking helps.
The photograph below is near the west bluff. Five humans, including me, and two dogs made it that far! My wife, our niece, and our niece’s dog turned back at the first of the six switchbacks on the hike up. By the way, a goat was standing on the rock bluff when we were below and near it on the hike up. My youngest brother, in manful form, chased off the “dangerous” goat!
I took the photograph below at the parking lot—after the complete hike by five humans and two dogs! I see two Nissan Frontier trucks! Mine is the 2006, behind Molly and the information sign. My youngest brother’s is the 2017 on the left side with the tailgate showing.
Conclusion
We “rock ‘n roll” through life by God’s grace if he cares! Well, he does care. Sadly, God's providence allows bad things to happen to good people.
If the uninsured chicklet had been a few seconds faster or slower on 3/29/2016, she would not have hit my 1995 Nissan pickup and me. Providence allowed the event.
I get mad at times. I think, “God, if you care, why didn't you prevent the uninsured chicklet from killing my truck and almost killing me? A few seconds earlier or later would have helped!”
God allows bad things to happen to good people in this temporal realm. He knows that good folks, saved by his grace, will have everlasting joy in heaven. I continue to endure with that thought in mind. Hiking helps—especially with family on St. Patrick's Day!
