I gratefully live in a pristine area of the country.  The Sand Hill Cranes were in my front yard last week, the Canadian Geese were squawking on my rooftop yesterday, and I often share a carrot with the neighbor’s horse and mules’ right over my back fence.  I like to walk the golf course across the street in the off season; littered with mountain views and babbling streams.

Early this morning with a spring snow falling, my doggy and I were meandering along on our walk.  I noticed someone else had been on the golf course ahead of us as large booted and four legged footprints stretched out across the snow.  I was lost in thought and meditating as I walked along, and hadn’t realized that I had gravitated to “their” path and was following the footsteps ahead of me.

As I became aware of my following, I looked around at the wide open golf course and to all of the untouched snow.  My dog Bailey booked it out in front of me, wild and free, paused and looked back with her head tilt of “well are you coming?”

Excitedly  I veered off in my own direction sinking my booted feet deep, making my own prints in the snow.   A snow angel may have even been made.

I tend to stay in the lines.   My husband often chuckles as he is taking short cuts and I am following the trail map.  Most days, I tend to like the sidewalks with their delineated lines, or pathways with their inviting turns, but not today.   Today, I am grateful for the simple reminder that indeed I am the captain of my ship, or more importantly today the driver of my boots.