Life and Love in Lake Placid, New York

 

As I stepped out of the car, I took a deep breath. It wasn’t the warm, sweet air of a traditional honeymoon in some exotic location. It was cool and clean and I was standing in moose poop. How romantic.

I had always dreamed that my honeymoon would be spent lounging by the pool with my new husband, frozen daiquiri in hand, reading trashy magazines and falling asleep in the sun. Unfortunately, that’s just not me. I can’t do it. I need to feel something when I travel, an awakening of sorts. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate a strong margarita just as much as the next guy, but I seek more than that. I need more than that.

We were in Lake Placid, New York, at just the right time and it was everything I wanted. The leaves were somewhere between late summer and early winter, they were simply a joy. I felt as though we had a secret being here. We knew something that everyone else had forgotten. As we began our hike that day in the heart of the Adirondacks I started to think about my life. In places like this, at moments like this, I did my best thinking. My head was clear, my body felt alive and I stopped and held my face to the autumn sun. I felt gratitude. I felt spoiled. In times like these I could really focus my attention on the present. There were no cell phones, no TVs, no bills. There was warm sun, cool air, the mountains, the lakes and the love of my life.

I glanced over at my new husband. I knew that if we could enjoy ourselves in a setting like this, free from all of the hindrances of life, we were going to make it. We approached a waterfall and stood for a moment, in awe of the captivating scene. That’s the thing about travel, it’s different from vacation. With vacation, you are ‘vacating’ your everyday life. With travel, you are adding to your life, learning and seeing and doing. I felt free here. I reached for the water and let it rush over my hand. With so many digital distractions, it’s nice to feel something real. There is unlimited access to pictures, articles and videos about faraway people and places, but nothing beats the real thing.
Here and now, I feel the rush of life. I can see the sharp reds and yellows in the trees, I hear nothing and everything all at once, and I feel like the day will go on forever. There is an adrenaline that accompanies trips like these and I will continue to seek out this high for the rest of my life.

Later in the day, we enjoy an afternoon beer overlooking Mirror Lake. Despite the dropping temperature we are sitting outside, trying to savor every bit of the fading sun. As I look out over the stillness of the lake, I take a mental photograph. We will never be here again, in this exact moment and I want to capture it. I don’t feel the need to take an actual picture of my husband or myself, our food or even the beauty of the lake because I want to relish in the freedom that I’ve been awarded. I don’t know what life will bring us, but for right now, I consider this a gift.

As we make our way back to our hotel, I can’t help but feel that I’ve had a productive day. I’ve added to my life, added feelings, emotions and thoughts. I’ve been inspired. I’ve seen and felt beauty. I’ve taken a moment to stop and enjoy the ride. I smile at my husband knowing that we’ve experienced something that no one can take away from us. This is the epitome of freedom. As we head into the hotel, I am already feeling the excitement of the next day. The promise of something new. But, first, I need to change my shoes.

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