one year

As I hiked along today, weighed down by 

            a heavy pack and a jumble of emotions, 

I thought of Mom, 

in her 20 somethings,

backpacking away, 

losing herself in the woods 

but maybe finding a sense of home 

    in the process.

 

Mostly, I am just curous, who was this enthusiastic, 

care free, exuberant, “all-in” 25 year old?

Untethered to kids, a 9-5 or a partner, 

            did she really just roam?