I love being a mom. Don't get me wrong: I really do. But sometimes I miss the freedom of just being able to pack up my pup and go exploring. Before Matty was born, Oskar and I used to just take off walking and see where we ended up. Well, not so much in Korea, but in Germany--yes. We'd venture off the beaten path, just the two of us, and usually end up seeing some pretty amazing things. Our ability to just "get up and go" has dwindled with a little one; we have to schedule adventures around naptimes and meals and also take into account trails that Matty can walk (or I can handle doing while lugging a 30 pound kid around). Needless to say, Oskar and I don't go exploring too often anymore.
But this morning, I decided that needed to change. I needed to get out of the city; Oskar needed some exercise; and we both needed some QT together. So I left Matty with his dad, and the two of us ventured to the edge of the city, where the blacktop ended in desert, and we just got out and walked. Fellow Las Vegans--did you know the Red Rock Conservation area comes all the way up to the edge of the city? You don't have to drive all the way out on Charleston to get to it.
And so, we hiked. Yes, it was hot. Yes, we were walking through not-as-pretty-as-Indiana scenery. But, for the first time in a long time, it was just me and my pup. I could feel the stress melting out of my body (along with a few gallons of sweat. It was 9AM but already in the 90s).
The desert really is pretty in its own way, right? I could have hiked much longer, but Oskar's tongue was soon dragging in the sand, and he was desperately searching for shade under a cactus.
But it felt nice to get out of the city, even if it was only by a few miles, and just hike. Looking forward to doing it again soon (but anytime you want to drop the temps, Mother Nature, I'd be fine with that).
No comments:
Post a Comment