possibilities

My mom, Amelie and I took a trip up to Estes Park yesterday and on the way up I told her that one of my new goals is to climb Longs Peak, sometime in the next couple of years. That particular hike makes my mom nervous. She’s never been but she’s heard stories about treacherous areas and falling climbers. 

Long Peak, East Face

Before my mom was paralyzed, she hiked many of the mountains in Colorado. Hiking was a passion that she and my dad shared, and they conquered many mountains together, dragging along four children with varying degrees of willingness. We lived in Kansas but spent nearly every summer vacation in Colorado, mostly in Rocky Mountain National Park. I know that it hurts my mom terribly that she is no longer able to do certain things that she always loved, but sometimes it hits me like a punch to the stomach how painful this must be. So we got to talking about alternatives. There are some things she won’t be able to do but there are still so many possibilities. 

The three of us at wheelchair-friendly Lily Lake near Allenspark, CO

I’ve been reading a guidebook on Longs Peak and found out that you can ride all the way to the Boulderfield of Longs Peak on horseback. In fact, there are a ton of trails in Colorado that are accessible on a horse. We went back and forth on the logistics of a paraplegic riding horseback. A special saddle would be necessary. Some assistance getting on and off the horse. A second horse to “pack” her wheelchair.

We both knew we needed to do some research. Here’s some cool stuff we’ve found since our discussion: Accessible custom saddles. Therapeutic Equine Centers where paraplegics can learn to ride horses again. Most amazing: an exoskeleton that allows paraplegics to walk. Possibilities.

I'm inspired by the tenacity of people with incredible challenges. My mom wants to get on those trails and I think she's going to make it happen. I'm looking forward to seeing that empty place in her heart heart filled again.

ode to my dog

Oh, Tekka I do love you.

Even when I shout

“You’re driving me BANANAS!”

Like Oscar the Grouch
When you pull on the leash
Or bark like a wild man,
Waking the baby from her nap.

When the baby came I may have changed.

Hormones raging, you endured

Many cranky ramblings and

Me, pointing you out the back door.

But your goofy smile still makes me laugh.

I can still make your tail curl

And wag in great pleasure

When I put on my running shoes

And we walk and walk and walk

'Til your tongue falls out of your mouth.
Tekka, I love you, I do.

 

 We adopted Tekka from Colorado Collie Rescue on New Years Day, 2009. He had traveled to Colorado from Wichita (my own home town) where he had been at the humane society there for some time. When he wasn’t adopted, the Kansas Humane Society could no longer hold him there and called around to find a shelter that had room for him. Colorado Collie Rescue in Longmont agreed to take him and he and a handful of other dogs were transported by a kind-hearted trucker, arriving in Denver in early December of 2008. It was right around that time that our beloved Fiona, a beautiful and sweet 9-year old collie, died suddenly. When we saw pictures of Tekka taken at the shelter (left) at the end of December, we knew we had to go meet him. It was love - and serendipity. He brought joy to a home full of sorrow and longing. Last year, when Amelie was born, Tekka immediately took to her and they have been the best of friends ever since.

Me and Tekka on his homecoming day, New Years 2009.

Amelie and her best buddy, Tekka, January 2011.