Wolverine Peak

Mom is in town. She came in Tuesday night. On Wednesday, my brothers and I went to the hotel in the tired and bright morning in order to clear our evening to hike Wolverine Peak. Mom rumbled with Car into the Millennium parking lot at 4:45 and we clambered up into the dusty, functional seats. Shortly after the moose delay, Sam kindly waited with Mom as her frequent pauses and satisfied air settled for turning around early. To the chagrin of my burning calves and JP's chaffed heels, the two of us rushed the remaining trail. 

Mom coated my bare arms and legs in bug dope—as the Alaskans call it—at the beginning of the trail. Even so, JP and I galloped in our boots for a large part of the descent, propelled by the surge of mosquitos that clung to anything moving at a trot or slower. Dont let the bugs in, instructed Mom as JP and I fumbled with our breathing and the car doors. 

Although we were out late, the tired legs, the dirt, the sun, and the conquest, left me wearied with satisfaction and happiness. Such days produce earnest sleep.

This is an Alaskan summer: long nights in the sun, heavy eyes in the morning, and a light smile through the afternoon.

#whatsupdocs

I flew to Asheville NC this weekend to attend a wedding. I took my camera but never a picture. So I will have to use words to describe it to you.

Austin and I met during the first days of college and he has pursued friendship with me ever since, despite the arguments I've sought with him.
Ruth was one of those beautifully confident, spirited girls, surrounded by an unclimbable wall of handsome smiles and spotlight. To my great delight, we became friends during my second year and have fought for our friendship ever since, even sharing a house with 4 other young women our senior year.
I did not tell them I was coming to their wedding. In fact, I told very few because I find great pleasure in great surprises and I shamelessly assumed that my presence would be just that. They were kind enough to confirm my expectation.
Someone whispered to me, they are coming up now. I walked outside and stood under the awning of the rehearsal dinner venue as Ruth and Austin came around the corner. They looked right through me. And then, the light went off in their eyes—as if it could have been any brighter at the dawning of their wedding day. How did I ever consider not coming? Even if it had meant spending every penny I had. 
The next day, I helped hand out programs for the ceremony. As I followed the last guest inside, I glanced back through the closing doors. Austin. He looked back at me. The tranquil exultation and resplendent assurance he wore in his brief smile and deep glance stunned me. In that trembling moment, the glory of heaven blast through every fiber of my being. God was explicit: this is good and I AM well pleased.