Hiking the Y

34 years ago my Uncle was badly burned while he was repairing a car, he spent many weeks in a burn unit. This was all before I was born and by the time I could really notice the scars they had faded some. So to me that is just always how he has been, he doesn't have severe facial scarring but his neck and arms have scars. he also has scars from where they took grafts from his legs to put on his arms. He has always made a joke about his grafted skin, he would say if you pulled the hair on his knuckle it would hurt on his thigh because that is where the skin was originally from.

I often think about how challenging that time must have been for everyone involved. How amazing people are cultivated from heartache, pain and suffering.

My Uncle recently turned 60. In the last year he survived Quadruple bypass surgery cutting of part of a finger and moved into the same ward as the inspirational NieNie. He knows her story and even met her at church and was able to show her his scars. I hope that she was able to find some hope in the fact that things will get better with time.

Well while celebrating his Birthday it was mentioned that they were going to hike the Y Monday after dinner. My Uncle said "If Stephanie can do it, I can too" My girls had been asking to hike it as well so we decided to go along with my cousin and her kids.

My Uncle took things slow and steady, he didn't stop to rest often he just kept on trucking, He did an amazing job, it wasn't easy for him. But he never complained, he never wanted to give up, he just kept going one step at a time. He made it to the top.

After a couple switchbacks I was huffing and puffing. Eventually I made it to the top, but it wasn't easy and I was embarrassed. I like to blame things on my awful ankles because its easy and doesn't make me feel so bad. But the truth of it is, I let myself go and now I am paying for it.



Well no more. I decided that hiking the Y was my kick of to a new me. A healthy me. I have started to change my diet, and I currently play Softball once a week with friends. I am hoping to start walking progressing to running. I just need to take it slow and not over kill or I will give up.



So here it goes folks.. my public confession of laziness, and the "trail head" to my adventure to a new me one step at a time.