Hiking 9990 and lessons learned

Kim, Brooke and I decided that we would spend Bryce's birthday hiking up to his favorite place in The Canyons. That would be 9990. From there,Bryce would climb up the last tip of the mountain and snowboard in the back country off the top. We took his phone and played the Modest Mouse song he loved...World At Large. ( If the world's at large, why should I remain? ) This is what I learned: when we got off the gondola and onto the trail, we missed a point and found ourselves at the bottom of the chairs that take you to the top of 9990. We looked up and knew that if we followed the chair lift we would make it to our destination. It reminded me of standing at the entrance of the Empire State Building and looking up to the top. I told Brooke and Kim...you are crazy. There was no trail and it was very, very steep and far away. They started anyway and so I followed and slowly we assented to the top. The view was amazing. We sat in silence for some of the time. Just thinking and listening to the World at Large. Life is so much like that hike at different times in our lives. We think ...no way can I do that. But then we start and we take it a day at a time and we come to a point where we know we have arrived/ made it. It is a great feeling--on top of the world kind. The hike on Bryce's birthday was very symbolic for me as I feel I have arrived at a turning point in my life. I am ready to move on. Yipeeeee. Happy Birthday Bryce. I don't know if they celebrate in heaven but we had a great time here.