Oh, California. You are warm and sunny and not humid. I love you.
I also love my dad and my brother.
I love the incredible views all around Yosemite, and seeing my little second cousins running around all over the place (they are the four kids on the walkway, and the big guy is my cousin heading over to keep them in line).
I love that my granddad, who passed away in September, set aside money in his will for the entire Mills family to spend time in Yosemite — his favorite place — and have a special evening at the Ahwahnee Hotel dining room, where we ordered fancy wine and toasted to his memory. He was a very classy man with excellent taste.
I enjoyed an incredible salad with arugula, beets, candied orange peel, walnuts and a big hunk of brie…
…braised lamb shank…
…and a ridiculous slice of red velvet/fudge cake that I shared with my dad. We owned it.
I’m doing my best to crutch around like a champ and not be too much of a disruption to everyone else. I hate asking for help, but my family is so happy to offer it and I’m learning to accept gracefully.
After three months of doing everything on my own, it’s very interesting to suddenly really need other people. It’s an important reminder, I think, that being fiercely independent isn’t the only thing I should value. I need people in my life, especially people I care about, whether I’m injured or perfectly fine.
I’ve been trying to leave my crutches out of photos (damn my pride), but here they are in the background.
I really owe my crutches for allowing me to hobble off the beaten path, through the forest and to this peaceful spot overlooking the Yosemite Valley.
Here, my family and I spread my granddad’s ashes, per his wishes. We cried, we laughed, we shared memories. We said goodbye.
Now he’ll always be a part of what he considered to be the most beautiful place in the world. I might just have to agree with him.
Dev on Running 