Hiking Group

Nancy and I met in a body pump exercise class. We would say hi and bye coming and going, and eventually during class we would make faces at each other in the front mirror when things got tough. She began to goad me to lift more weight and I would send it right back at her. Our senses of humor matched well and I always look forward to seeing her. At the beginning of the summer, she told me about a hiking group she belonged to and invited me to join. Between the two of us, our schedules just didn’t align. Until today, that is!

Nancy texted on Friday to ask if I could go. I was having lunch with my college roommate, but I asked if she could do dinner instead and sure enough I was now free to attend the hike.

I love hiking, but I’ve never gone in a group. I’ve never gone with more than a few friends or even alone. But this 7 mile hike through beautiful Cooper’s Grist Mill in Chester, New Jersey convinced me that I had really been missing something!

Nancy introduced me to a few of her good friends at the start and they all were equally nice. As we hiked, Nancy told me her story and I told her mine. We had many things in common, but also Nancy held so many surprises I couldn’t have imagined! I began to call her Nine Lives Nancy!

As the hike went on, we mingled in small groups, pairs, or walked single file. I met so many people and heard about so many interesting professions, life stories, new career paths, retirement passions, and failed and flourishing relationship relationships.

At one point, we paused and took a big group picture! I felt very much a part of this hiking collective. I’m looking forward to my next adventure with them!