This week Nancy and I visited Sara, Wes and Ella. Ella is two and a half years old. That's she and Nancy in the picture. Being with her reminded me of the lessons our three young grandchildren have taught us. These include:

• If things don't go your way it's seldom the end of the world.
• Life is to be enjoyed, cherished and celebrated.
• Wonder is contagious at any age.
• Ask questions.
• Naps are good.

After the visit we went on to the Shenandoah National Park for a couple of days of hiking. While there were many people in the park, it was a little before the real season and the trails were mostly empty. On one hike we ended up at Blackrock Mountain. This is a mountain made up of boulders piled one on top of another. The boulders ranged in size from a foot or so across to ones the size of a small room I scrambled to the top of the heap of rocks (see Picture) which wasn't all that difficult as the trail ended about 3/4 of the way up. At the top the wind was strong and I couldn't help but wonder how long the rocks had been there. There's something about mountains, even ones made out of a tumble of boulders, that reminds one of permanence, of solidarity and of quiet and immutable strength.

We celebrated our anniversary that night with a bottle of wine brought from home, a good dinner at the Skyline Lodge and a lot of conversation about our experiences and what we'd like the future to hold. It was good to get away for a few days , reflect on life and commune with nature.