21st Century Synchronicity: The Hills Are Alive!

About a week ago, we were visiting with another newborn family of four when the father of a four-month-old and four-year-old confided,

"I heard there's a drug that law students take so they can get by on only four hours of sleep. Whatever it is, I want some. Just a few more hours in the day to focus on my lost interests."

I felt no empathy for this weary father because I HAD been getting by on adrenaline for a solid three months. But sure enough, the fourth-month burn out settled in after a week. I was taken down by a flurry of cheesy urps, and working overtime to fight random illnesses migrating from kindergarten. Out for the count and feeling disconnected from EVERYthing, I started bubbin' away my worries with late night snack-a-thons.

I reached out to Bunny with a plea for some personal time in nature, and she complied.

On a summery Sunday morning, we headed out to hike in the Columbia Gorge with our friend KP who recently moved back to town after a decade in San Francisco. This time of the year, Dog Mountain is infamous for its grand displays of wildflowers. The trail is short and sweet, but steep as hell. To keep the pace rolling, Kelly and Bunny belted out spontaneous Gospel rhythms while I carried a sleeping Wub. They also

invented a wacky rule - if you feel like complaining, then start quackin' instead. That's right, like a duck, "Quack! quack! QUAck!" Lilly was a good sport being the only kindegartner krazy enough to challenge the mountain with her first blister and only a few quacks.

Climbing a thousand feet in a mile, we reached the first sun-soaked flower field overlooking panoramic vistas of the Gorge. From this particular spot, the glaciated valley always reminds me of Julie Andrews spinning down color-splashed meadows in the Swiss Alps. Throw in our choir, and literally, the Hills were Alive with the Sound of Music. Wubby was in heaven - a real nature boy!

After eating a scrumptious Hawaiian PB & J (peanut butter, sliced bananas and passionfruit-pineapple jelly from Maui), Bunny & Lilly worked on a wildflower crown while KP & Wubby played in the grass. This was my chance to breakaway for a half-hour speed-hike to the next flower field .

Listening to the soul-searching spells spun by Mogwai (get inspired by these Argentinian images!), I charged up the mountain and found my lost confidence as a husband, father and integral piece of the community puzzle. Inspired by the wisdom of nature, I returned from the mountain recharged, refreshed and ready for the week. Good thing, because I have another round of ankle surgery today, and it drains about all I've got.