Memories & Meaning

I've been mulling over the notion that life is simply life unless you deliberately infuse it with meaning, the doing being somewhat more difficult than the stating. It's beginning to be clear for me that 'meaning' in this context is nearly synonymous with 'memorable.' For a day to matter, it must be one I not only experience, but remember. A day spent cleaning the house or drafting a contract will evaporate in the mists of time, but a day containing an adventure will linger.


(Dragontail Peak with Aasgard Pass to the left covered in snow, the very day a young Seattle climber perished there after falling through the snow into the watershed beneath.)


Smith & I have had epic adventures so far this summer, with still a few more up our sleeves. We've hiked so much and so far in training for Mt. Rainier and Mt. Cashmere that talking about all of them would be overkill. Suffice it to say we've put a lot of miles and vertical feet on our boots & packs since April, and each one has been worth it times a million. There is something about being in the mountains that just heals my soul and I glimpse who I am, or perhaps more accurately, who I can be out there. Memorable days... meaning.

As for the children, Brooke is having something of an epic summer in her own right. Age 17 and heading now into her senior year. She took 4 AP classes last year, and kicked ass on all 4 AP exams. The boy she had crushed on for a really long time (finally) asked her to go out. The school year ended with a trip to Girls' State, at which she and 1 other girl in all of Washington State were selected to attend Girls' Nation (an all-expenses-paid trip to D.C. the "other" Washington) from which she just returned -- exhausted & exhilarated -- yesterday afternoon. We picked her up at SeaTac, went to dinner, then drove the 3 hours to Randall, WA where we deposited her at Cispus for Leadership Camp, a required activity for all incoming ASB officers this school year. We didn't get home until after midnight and won't see her again until Friday. She also attended "Enbukai" in between Girls' State and Nation, which is a karate sparring camp. Meanwhile, one of her best buddies who spent all last school year as an exchange student in Argentina, returned home just in time for the Harry Potter final movie release, so the kids planned a party around that. I think she's experiencing a memorable, joyful whirlwind.


(Our 3 kids + 1 on a hike to Lake Colchuk)

Grayson graduated from 8th Grade; received the "Outstanding 8th Grade Boy" award; joined the H.S. jazz band and percussion pit & played his first gig with them; joined an AAU baseball team that played I'm sure at least a million tournaments through the 2nd week in July; went on his first 4-day backpacking trip without an adult; and just last night returned home from a week-long vacation to the Oregon coast with another buddy & his family. Plus he's had numerous sleep-overs, trips to the waterslides, lakeside parties with other incoming freshmen, and will start "Band Camp" (this one time, seriously!) two weeks before school starts. His sense of humor continues to develop and refine itself, which is incredibly fun to watch, and he has literally grown over 6 inches in height since the end of 7th grade. Stay tuned, this one has surprises in store for us, I've no doubt.

Carter Bug has reached the magical height of 48 inches, the significance of which is that he is now 'legal' to ride ALL the slides at all the waterparks in our area. The psychological benefit to him of this development cannot be overstated. For the past THREE summers, his two best buddies have been tall enough to ride, while he was excluded arbitrarily on height, regardless of swimming ability. It has plagued him, and now, at last, the monkey is off his back. He is free! We have done a LOT of sliding, despite unseasonably moderate temperatures and corresponding blue lips. He attended "Enbukai" along with his sister, his first 4-day trip away from home ever. What homesickness he may have felt was completely overshadowed by being cool enough to be at camp with Brooke. The highlight for him was winning the "Most Compassionate Competitor" medal for decking an opponent nearly a head taller than himself, and then being so concerned that he kept asking the kid if he was okay before scoring every point in the match. To hear the sensei tell the story was endearing and entertaining in equal parts. The moral of the story is that he'll absolutely beat you, but he'll be worried about you while he does. :) Carter is also the most enthusiastic fisherman of our tribe, on a fishing trip with his dad and brother even as I type.


(Finally! Tall enough to boogie.)

See, these are the things we'll remember. Sure, we'll recall with a vague general sense of "normal" the days when school, work, lessons, laundry, games, and dinner together made up the quilt of our lives. But these standout days are the mile-markers providing the framework on which that quilt will hang in years to come.

Tell me something memorable, friends. I want to know what matters to you.