Magical Moment 298, "Hiking with Style"

Sarah (left) and I

We spent Thanksgiving with family in the mountains of North Carolina, just a stone’s throw away from the Great Smoky Mountains. In this small town, rare is the occasion (other than church) for dressing up. This comes much to the dismay of my 20 year old cousin-in-law, Sarah, who like me has an interest for trying the latest fashions and feels more at home in a nice pare of heeled, leather boots than in old, worn tennis shoes. So whenever we’re together, we make an effort to dress up and find something in town to do.

We got dolled up, did our hair, put on our nice jeans, new boots, and best coat with the intention of going shopping in the nearest “big” town. On the way, Sarah’s mother suggested a slight change of plans. “I’ve always wanted to visit Crowder’s Mountain, which is only a few miles further.” Shrugging our shoulders, we agreed to the idea and soon found ourselves at Crowder’s Mountain State Park, a scenic landscape with a wildlife exhibit and an endless selection of hiking trails. And with nothing else to do but hike, we chose a moderate trail to follow.

There we were, tramping through the wet, thick leaves in heels. Sarah adorned her trendy jewelry and I sported my glamorous sunglasses, bought from none other than Tiffany and Co. We both wore our tailored coats, hardly worn and fit for the streets of New York City. On the path, we passed serious hikers, equipped with heavy-duty boots, backpacks, and walking sticks. What a sight we must have been.

Finally we made it to our destination, a beautiful lake framed with a mountain backdrop. We never made it shopping that day, or anything else. We showed off only for the squirrels, birds, and other critters we passed along that hiking trail.