"Listen, what are you doing tomorrow morning. My husband Paul is having a reiki session at the house and the girls and I need to find a place to go."
"Not much of anything, Lena, why don't you come over and you and the girls can hang out. Maybe the girls would love to take a hike with Tuck out in the forest."
I was thrilled that Lena would be coming over. There were a few things we needed to discuss and besides it would be a wonderful opportunity for Tucker, our mixed retriever/collie to have a playdate. Tucker loves little children and rarely gets to have fun romping with them.
Shortly after ten-thirty, Lena arrived with five year old Julia and two year old Sage. Tuck was esctatic...two little people just his size. Immediately, he started showering both girls with big slobbering kisses. We waited for Papa to get home from some errands and then together we all headed out on our daily hike.
"Come on, Julia, this is the way", said Tuck, excited to share his walk in the forest with his new friend.
With Tuck and Julia leading the way, the rest of us followed along. Papa liked walking with Sage, just the perfect pace for him. Sometimes, when it's just Papa and I walking he needs to remind me to slow down. Like Papa, Sage likes to stop and ponder and pick things up to investigate further.
What joy we find in a simple walk through a woodland forest....noting moss growing here, soft to the touch... or standing beside a huge, old pine tree with arms extended. I am amazed with the stamina of both girls... hiking seems a part of their soul.
Back once again at our own bogs, Tuck shows the girls his favorite sand hill.
"Come on up", he calls to the girls, "Let's have some fun".
Julia finds a stick and pretends she's claiming new territory....Sage crawls to the top and soon is doing a bum roll down the hill.
Back to the top, Sage goes....following Tuck with his stick.
Tuck loves having a playmate just his size that crawls on all fours. He instinctively knows she's just a wee one and is gentle with her....though every once in awhile he smothers her with kisses.
"Hey, Julia, want to dig to China?," Tuck asks.
"Tuck, you are just too much fun!", exclaims Julia.
"It's really quite easy, you know!"
Meanwhile Sage has found her own recipe for fun.....making dirt balls.
Lena, seeing all the action going on at the top of the hill decides to join in.
Standing down below, I can't but think that we all should step back and find our own inner child and let it shine.
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Comments: 54
Why is it that a girl of five looks beautiful with a gap in her teeth, but once she's older than sixteen, it's somehow an impediment? This we need Germaine to do an essay about..
I love that last picture - if happiness could be bottled - here you have it.:)
Thanks, Bob for sharing.
And that Tuck he is just screams out "Hug ME!!" what a sweetie pie.
You are a fine friend for Tuck....he loved his playdate with you! He finally found someone with the same interests as himself!
Papa and I "are in training" to be grandparents....more jaunts with young people is all we need to be experts at this grandparenting thing!
And Papa and I are so pleased with Tuck...never having been around children before, we didn't know what to expect....would he be jealous? Not at all....were they not his playmates?
Would you believe these girls did the whole trail that I did with you...only a few times did Sage need to be carried...she just toddled along climbing over downfall and through bushes. Julia and Tuck were always out ahead being pathfinders together...another Lewis and Clark in the making!
What I love about your essays, Bob, is that you exhibit such delight in your atavism - I love to feel damp earth between my toes, fingers, the smell of the land as we are sitting upon it - and hearing birds, seeing, feeling, smelling everything.
A bit chilly and grey today. Mostly writing, reading, housework, paperwork, exercise, for me. Back to work tomorrow.
Your article is Featured in the Triple Name Club.
Thanks for posting to All Photo Essays Here!
I love this one!
Thanks for posting this to Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008.
Thank you for taking me along.
Tuck really enjoyed being the "King of the Mountain" in Julia's eyes.
Oh my goodness, it's late once more...guess I need to get this body in gear and head out for another adventure at school.
make sure bob brings bail money, before tuck. he won't be able to get you out of trouble.
where is she anyways......i bet she's taking papa for a walk.
As for Tuck, Faith, he has to stay home and take Papa for walks each day and mind the house. Tuck does a lot of the cooking and cleaning around here.
(Sorry it's taken me so long to comment on your article but, I've been offline for almost a week now due to problems with my IP and am just now going through all of my contacts' articles... jean)
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