Dear God:
Today, I am thankful for great friends, perfect weather, excellent climbing.
We finally connect with our friends, Mark and Chris, for an after-work climbing adventure in Red Rock Canyon. We've tried to meet all summer, but work, other commitments and inclement weather have gotten in the way.
We rendezvous at the Solar Slab just before 6 PM. S had already lead the easy but smeary 5.6 route and top-roped it for Mark and Chris (Chris, Mark's girlfriend, is a beginner while Mark, an experienced climber, is out of shape). S then leads two harder, adjacent routes for us to climb (a 5.8 that we've climbed before and a 5.10a that S on-sites and I red-point).
And what about T? Well, he has the best time of all.
T relishes the hike into the canyon along the groomed trail, sniffing the overgrown shrubs and frequently checking his "pee-mail." While we climb, he chews scrub oak branches or lies quietly behind the belayer, intently watching the climber.
He knows, of course, that his good behavior will not go unrewarded.
Here's the routine:
At the end of each climb, T waits for the climber to step onto solid ground. At that moment, T rushes forward to greet the climber. He waits patiently while S and I discuss the route and sip water from our canteens. We turn to him and say "good dog" several times. Finally, T gets his highly-anticipated reward: a handful of dog treats that he immediately devours. Then, he settles down and waits for the climbing-treat cycle to complete its course once more.
For this blessing, I am grateful.
Amen.
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