An Unlikely Date

My husband Caleb and I used to get a babysitter twice a month. We would enjoy each other's company on a quiet drive to a favorite restaurant, eat a delicious meal that someone else had cooked, chat about anything and everything, often pop in at a favorite beer garden. We always stayed out until we were certain the kids were in bed and sleeping. That was “Date Night.” But over the last year of pandemic-related disruption, we’ve discovered a different kind of date.

Almost every Saturday morning the alarm rings at 4:45. The house is quiet and the kids are still asleep. When they wake up, our oldest will be in charge. (Finally!) I get dressed while he makes the coffee. We pull on our hiking boots by the front door and toss our trekking poles and backpacks into the trunk of the car. The sky is dark when we back out of the driveway. Some mornings we talk on the way, others we are quiet as we sip our coffee on the fifteen minute drive to the trailhead.

Some mornings there are already several parked cars from hikers ascending the mountain. Other mornings we’re the first. The ribbon of light that announces dawn is near hasn't yet crested the distant ranges. The valley traps the low temperatures of cold winter air. We can see our breath. This is what we call “California cold.” It’s legitimately cold, like 38 degrees, but not literally freezing. Then we are off. Headlamps flash on. He takes the lead at a steady but comfortable pace. We are going to the summit for the sunrise. Most mornings we are quiet, in companionable silence: each with our own thoughts.

I often feel like I’m racing to beat the sun as light begins to crowd out the darkness on the jagged horizon. I know that what’s coming is always worth it. After 1100 feet of elevation and 40 minutes of effort, we receive the gift of reaching the top: a summit sunrise. We’re a little out of breath, but we feel a small but satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Each morning the sunrise looks different. Some days soft pinks and reds with a touch of orange streak the western sky. Other days the dominant colors are yellow and magenta. Each morning is unique. No two sunrises are ever the same. To the north we see the snow-capped peaks of San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, and San Antonio. To the west the broad Pacific lays flat on the horizon. The coastal ranges that divide our Mediterranean climate from the desert climate of Anza-Borrego turn purple with dawn. We’re often the only two at the summit, enjoying a beautiful gift of providence from our Creator.

We don't linger for long. There are kids at home and we have our day to get on with. With the strenuous ascent behind us, we have the breath to spend on chit chat. It’s our time to bring up topics that have been on our heart without the possibility of interruption. We pass other hikers who are on their way up; the mountain trail gets busier as the morning gets later. At the trailhead there are a lot more cars now. We drive off to our favorite donut shop where we have become Saturday morning regulars. We bring a pink pastry box home to the kids who are hungry for their favorites sugary treat.

Our dates never used to look like this. And if you had told me a year ago that a Saturday morning hike would soon be the highlight of my week, I’d never have believed you. But it’s my favorite morning of the week.

Something I use because I hike:

My joints, especially my knees, are often the first to feel the effects of all that effort.. It's always worth it. But it isn't always painless.

One thing that I do to make things a little easier on my body is to take AgilEase, which is a supplement that contains collagen, Frankincense powder, turmeric and a proprietary essential oil blend of Wintergreen, Copaiba, Clove, and Northern Lights Black Spruce—oils that are known for their joint health benefits.

AgilEase was designed to support healthy joint function and to reduce inflammation. That’s exactly what I'm going for. I follow the label recommendations and take two capsules daily.

Favorites from our Hikes

The Monserate Mountain trail is our Saturday morning spot.

Every now and then we get a stunning sunrise.

Beautiful tones at sunrise.

The Donut Pantry in Fallbrook is our favorite spot for pastries.

Thanks for reading! I would love to hear if 2020 made you shift your date nights, too—and what you found to replace them. Just hit reply if you’d like to share. I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.