Mt. Rainier, 1996

My friend Tressa of Tressays blogged about Mt. Rainier yesterday. I have nothing spectacular to blog about today and I know everyone is thinking to themselves, "Oh, please, not another stupid hornworm post," so I am shamelessly ripping her off. You are just going to have to get over it, Tressa, and be happy you're not looking at a picture of a bug right now.

I've been to Mt. Rainier exactly one time, waaaaay back in 1996. We took these pictures with an ancient point and shoot Vivitar that The Man's mother bought sometime in the mid 80's. We used that camera until I dropped and broke it in 2002.

This is the view along the road. I didn't really have much of a view as we drove through the park, as in those days I had to ride with the passenger's side make up mirror flipped down so JellyMan could see my face.

We walked one of the trails (I'm sure it has a name, but it escapes me) for what seemed like a week, but really was only an hour or so. Time tends to drag when you are plodding along with a hefty baby strapped to your front. JellyMan was what my grandmother would call a good eater. That is a pleasant euphemism for a big fat hogger of a baby.

This is one of those umpteen million (okay, 131) waterfalls Tressa mentioned. She is right; the name of it isn't important. It doesn't need to have a name; it is enough that it is there.

I liked crossing this bridge. It was bouncy. As you can see, JellyMan did not share my enthusiasm. He has always been a nervous kid. Now that I am looking at the picture, I am annoyed with myself. How hard would it have been for me to put a reassuring hand on his front? Maybe I did after the picture was taken. I hope so.

I believe this is Paradise, and the visitor's center is over to the right. I don't remember for certain, and I guess it doesn't really matter. We just sat here for a long time, enjoying the sunshine and helping JellyMan recover from his traumatic experience on the bouncy bridge by feeding him vast quantities of mushed peaches.

I couldn't get over all the wildflowers. They were everywhere, and they were gorgeous. It's too bad JellyMan isn't a girl. I could have stuck him in a meadow in a little pink dress and just looked at him all day.

Here I am with JellyMan in the visitor's center. I don't remember anything about the center. I don't even remember The Man taking this picture. But I am including it here, because in this picture I am very young and holding a happy baby.