Over this summer, I took a short trip to Tuscaloosa for my cousin Kendall's graduation from the University of Alabama. While up there, I spent the majority of my weekend with my cousin Olani. Olani said, 'Let's go on a drive," around one Saturday afternoon. Since I had been bored for most of the morning, I agreed to ride along. Little did I know, she was going to have me hiking up the side of a cliff.
When we arrived to our destination, we parked at the most beautiful lake with a small pier. I thought we would be sitting on the pier, laughing, and just talking about life. I could not have been more wrong. She starts hiking up the side of the cliff, and then looked back at me and said, "Come on!" I looked at her, and said, "Come where?" Without saying a word, she pointed up the hill. I looked down at my feet. I was wearing sandals and no mosquito spray. She then said, "It's not that bad. My friends and I do it all the time." I then looked at her feet. She was wearing tennis shoes and socks. She was at least safe from falling straight down the hill. For a few more minutes, she continued to gesture for me to follow behind her; however, as stubborn as I am, it took her a long time to finally convince me to follow. One I started up the side of the cliff, I immediately knew I had made the right decision.
A few leaves still laid on the ground, and they crunched under my feet as I climbed the side of the cliff. A cool breeze pushed westward as the sun beat down our necks, and the aroma of the fresh water traveled with it. Once we finally reached the top of the cliff, we looked out at the most amazing view. Here we sat approximately 3-4 stories over the water, and it was breathtaking. We watched families pass as they canoed down the river and a few boats sped past us as well. I had to give it to Olani. Despite the climbing up the side of a cliff in sandals, she did a good job. The view was impeccable. It was a view that people only dream of.
In the future, I know that if Olani says, "Let's go on a drive," that I need tennis shoes, socks, and plenty of mosquito spray, but I also know that it is going to be one great adventure.
When we arrived to our destination, we parked at the most beautiful lake with a small pier. I thought we would be sitting on the pier, laughing, and just talking about life. I could not have been more wrong. She starts hiking up the side of the cliff, and then looked back at me and said, "Come on!" I looked at her, and said, "Come where?" Without saying a word, she pointed up the hill. I looked down at my feet. I was wearing sandals and no mosquito spray. She then said, "It's not that bad. My friends and I do it all the time." I then looked at her feet. She was wearing tennis shoes and socks. She was at least safe from falling straight down the hill. For a few more minutes, she continued to gesture for me to follow behind her; however, as stubborn as I am, it took her a long time to finally convince me to follow. One I started up the side of the cliff, I immediately knew I had made the right decision.
A few leaves still laid on the ground, and they crunched under my feet as I climbed the side of the cliff. A cool breeze pushed westward as the sun beat down our necks, and the aroma of the fresh water traveled with it. Once we finally reached the top of the cliff, we looked out at the most amazing view. Here we sat approximately 3-4 stories over the water, and it was breathtaking. We watched families pass as they canoed down the river and a few boats sped past us as well. I had to give it to Olani. Despite the climbing up the side of a cliff in sandals, she did a good job. The view was impeccable. It was a view that people only dream of.
In the future, I know that if Olani says, "Let's go on a drive," that I need tennis shoes, socks, and plenty of mosquito spray, but I also know that it is going to be one great adventure.