Recovering My Memory

In his college years, my son, Drew, went to the Red River Gorge to spend the weekend rock climbing. Ever since, I have desired to explore the natural wonders of that part of Kentucky. 

I had already planned to leave home Tuesday morning to spend three days with our son and his family in Partridge, KY, two hours southeast of Red River Gorge. I decided that Monday morning, Memorial Day, I would leave early to make the three-and-a-half-hour drive to that Kentucky State Park. My plan was to spend the day hiking the “Original Trail” to see the Natural Bridge. I planned to spend the night in the park lodge and hike another trail Tuesday morning before making the two-and-a-half hours to Drew and Leah’s.

I was pumped! I got to the lodge, ate lunch, and headed to the trailhead just off the parking lot. That is when I discovered people had the day off for Memorial Day.  The hikers were plentiful, which made taking pictures challenging as well as time-consuming.

The Original Trail was a mere .5 miles long. What I discovered was for every foot of trail length there was a foot of elevation increase. It was like climbing a ladder. Well, it wasn’t that bad, but not having done any physical preparation over the winter it felt that way.

Thankfully, there were six benches along the way for people like me. I took advantage of each one. The determination to reach the arch dissolved any prideful pretense of manly vitality. But I was going to make it to the top, and I did!

The experience was exhilarating. It was also exhausting. Back in the car, I decided I didn’t have enough “want to” to hike another trail the next morning. I made an executive decision to end my adventure and head on to Drew’s.

When I got back to the car, I changed back into my driving shoes. I just sat in the car for a while recovering. Having recovered just enough to get to the restroom in the lodge, I took advantage of the “rest” found in that room. When I got back to the car, I reached for my cell phone to get directions to Partridge. I could not find my phone! I retraced my steps in the lodge. No phone. Back at the car, a second search from the passenger door was conducted. Still, no phone. Re-entering the lodge, I asked the kind ladies if a phone had been turned in. No phone. They called my phone. The call went straight to voice mail.

They asked for the phone number of someone they might call if the phone was turned in. That is when real dismay swept over me. I did not know a single phone number of anyone I knew. The only phone number I could remember was 911.

I felt hopelessly alone and cut off from anyone who could rescue me. I had no way of knowing the directions for getting to Partridge or even to get home. Nor could I contact anyone for moral support.

Back in the car, I sat there wondering what to do. Out of desperation, I started the car and checked the navigation; it worked. Wow! Maybe I could find safety.

Barely hopeful, I punched the car’s Bluetooth phone connection buttons. The phone book came up. I found Drew’s number, and what do you know, he answered. As he said hello, I realized my phone had to be in the car. Another search was made turning over everything in the car. The phone slipped from a hat and bounced off the seat onto the floorboard. I was SAVED!!!

With joy, I took the phone back in the lodge and proudly held it high for the ladies at the counter to see. They were obviously not at the same level of relief I was experiencing.

There is an old saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” That may not always be wisdom, but it was this time. I need to put at least a few phone numbers somewhere in addition to my cell phone memory. My mind is not the most dependable place to store important detailed information. Maybe it’s time to get a tattoo?

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 New International Version)

Photo – The “Natural Bridge.”