Today is a day of simple thoughts and smiles.......
Watching my sunflowers grow tall
Seeing a beautiful, bright, fish that has a million colors reflected in its scales
Gliding down a hill on a bike
Seeing the smile of a child who just mastered riding and balancing
A smile and wave from a neighbor
​Listening to the birds before opening my eyes in the morning
Feeling the warmth of the sun
Trying to solve the puzzle of  how to fix a bike and get it rolling again
Touching and holding a warm cup of coffee while waking up
Listening to people laughing, and laughing myself even though I did not hear the joke
Happily looking at fireweed and realizing it is not yet fully bloomed
Losing my balance while looking at a reflection of ice, mountains and water
Talking to a friend and customer who finds joy in reusing and repairing bicycles too
Working with people who are doing their best with a smile and warmth
Music and melody and trying to learn more about making it
Birds, feeding them, watching them, learning about them so many amazing colors and shapes
Listening to someone talk about what they love with passion
A quick ride to the Ski Hill and a hike to the top before work
Hearing the voice of someone I love
The unfiltered comments of a child, positive or negative
Memories of holiday x-c skiing wearing bowling shoes, on tooth picks with golf clubs
Walking on the beach with a friend and showing off my favorite spot
Realizing I have my shirt on inside out….. duh
Watching the trees sway while listening to the breeze

    Sitting on the bench halfway up the trail to Crater Lake, I glanced at my watch, and made an unplanned decision to continue up to the top.  The morning had been spent indoors, waiting for the clouds to clear off as predicted.  It was after noon before I even stepped outside, and there were no lofty mountain climbing plans on the table for the rest of the day. Heading out of town towards Power Creek, the sun continued to warm up the sky, and a tentative destination of hiking up to the bench was decided.  At Skater's Cabin a group of boisterous young women and dogs was just heading up. I hung back for a while, letting them clear the path of anything grumpy in our way. When I checked the time at the bench, even despite my late start and leisurely pace following others, it was still early and I seemed to be making great time.
      With no other plans for the evening, the sky blue and gorgeous, and a storm system moving in the next day, there was no good reason not to go to the top. Just before the trail flattened out I ran into a hiker on their way down and stopped for a uplifting conversation and kind words. The lake was a beautiful rainbow of colors, from the deep blues of the sky to the multi-colored reflections, shadows, and the clouds just starting to peak over the mountain tops. The decision to visit this awesome place today was the right one. After wandering around enjoying everything except for the increase in bug population, I again checked on the time. Time had stopped. Not just metaphorically, but really. My watch read the same as it had halfway up here. I smiled, now understanding how I had been able to make a world record breaking timed ascent of Crater Lake. There was no longer a reasonable time to stay or to head back down. Time was no more.