Friendship

Franz called Friday afternoon. “Pat would like to hike at the ski basin tomorrow.” He said. “There should be wild flowers, would you be able to join us?”

I said, “I’d be delighted!” Pat and Franz are long time friends and we always have a great time together. We mostly hike but there have also been some great dinners and urban adventures.

Pat and Franz are in their eighties. Fifteen years ago when we met, we would hike ten, sometimes up to sixteen miles in a day. Franz and I have hiked all of northern New Mexico’s big peaks together, and all of those have been amazing experiences. The three of us have backpacked into the Pecos Wilderness, and there was the famous watermelon hike, but that’s another story. These days our hikes are a bit toned down, and I am not complaining.

Our wildflower hike Saturday started at 10,000 feet elevation and climbed – steeply – to about 11,000 feet. The pace was relaxed, partly in response to the exertion, partly to look at the flowers. Let me try to recall those we saw: shooting star, king’s crown, corn lily, red and purple penstemon, paint brush, marsh marigold, iris, columbine, gentian, blue bells, various members of the pea and mustard families, geranium, jasmine, strawberry, raspberry, and (I know this is a run-on sentence)… some we didn’t know the names of and some I am forgetting. It was quite a show and the columbine took it.

Pat and I stopped at nearly every variety to look and discuss details such as why certain flower buds droop, but then swing up as flowers; how we’ve never seen displays of corn lily blooming like this. I asked Franz what he likes so much about downhill skiing, funny in that all these years I’ve known he’s a fiend for it but never knew why. To paraphrase his response, “… to ski in deep powder and not be able to see my skis…” and a little sheepishly, “…to show off!” At lunch we talked about marmots, mountain biking and getting to know the workings of Mac OSX. We shared some cherries and a bar of chocolate for dessert.

It’s more the time together than the hike or the flowers. Beyond the easy fit of our friendship, Pat and Franz remind me curiosity and wonder and joy can endure the trials we face in life. These qualities of the human spirit are timeless, and every so often it is so good to see. And then, there just aren’t too many people in their eighties climbing the dunes at the beach, let alone alpine slopes above ten thousand feet.

We closed the day at Ecco, a neat little café on Marcy St. Pat had a latte and Franz and I had gelatos, their treat.

Gordon Bunker