The world is Different through Olivia's eyes

Olivia is an amazing little girl. Every day she amazes me. Today, Zeke and I took her with us on our weekly hike. This meant that I had to carry her on my back in our hiking pack -- It isn't that she wouldn't walk, because she would walk every mile with us. It is that her 12 inch legs don't walk that fast and we don't have all day. So thankfully she still only weighs 23 pounds and up into the pack she went. Of course she loves to talk and has so much to say. We had many conversations on our 7 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail today. Some of them made me laugh out loud and others left me amazed. She started out pointing out all the big boulders to Zeke so that he wouldn't trip (which he did frequently anyway -- I think size Nine feet are just more than a ten year old can handle --LOL) . She was also sure to remind Zeke to be careful around the logs that fell down because snakes like to hide under them, and she admonished us for not bringing walking sticks with us. As we walked, she was sure to say hi to every person that passed us , and as "how's it going". Of course well before this she had already told us the number and gender of every approaching person, and was sure to comment as to wether they had a walking stick with them or a dog. At some point she actually seemed to be categorizing hikers as those with dogs and those with walking sticks. She even made a comment that people with dogs carried leashes and didn't have walking sticks. She was also sure to tell each and every dog walker that she liked their pretty dog. And noted quite happily when one of them finally said thank-you to her. "See mommy -- he said thank-you -- That's the first one" (first to say thank you that is).

I did have to explain to her at one point that the people passing by did not need to hear everything about us. Right after she started talking to a man and his two sons as they approached. It went something like this " We just walked to where the cars are parked down there, and ate a snack. I shared my jelly bean with Zeke and Mommy, but now we are walking back to our car fast because mommy needs to pee." Ok -- TMI. Thankfully she got the point when I talked to her and after that she limited her conversations to Hi -- how's it going -- I like your dog. She did comment very loudly at one point after a guy with no shirt on passed us --" EWE -- he had no shirt on and his ninnies were showing -- thats yucky" and she almost commented about the very LARGE topless man that passed us but I saw him approaching as the EWE came out of her mouth and managed to stop her from saying anything potentially embarrassing.

At one point I wondered to myself. What would Olivia do if she found herself alone and on this trail. So I asked her. "Olivia, if you were lost out her on this trail standing right here and mommy and Zeke were not with you, What would you do?" To which she answer: Hmmm "cry" . I laughed out loud. I believe it too. Then she decided she wanted to try to sound out and spell words so we spent a few minutes sounding out and spelling D-O-G and C-A-T and M-O-M.

The most remarkable thing about Olivia on the trail is her amazing attention to detail. She pointed out every White Blaze along the trail and the two Blue Blazes. She pointed out a turtle she saw, and the triangle shaped leaves on a vine and the heart shaped leaves, and the red mushroom, and a whole host of other amazing little details that we passed in the forrest. We will have to take her with us more often just so we can enjoy the trail through her eyes.