This is it.

Groggy eyes at the crack of dawn
And stiff legs that are cement blocks
Begin the journey up
the endless mountain.
Following in my Pap's footsteps,
I climb.
Through the meadows of columbines,
Hurdling fallen aspens through forests,
Along a stream that flows so peacefully,
Up steep wall-like inclines.

Hours of hiking, three water bottles, and two meadows later
We finally get to the lake.
Perched on a rock, we are silent,
Appreciating how far we've come.

My pap turns to me,
"John Denver said
'Talk to God and hear the casual reply.'
This is it."

I look back and witness the new sunlight paint the mountains.
I breathe in the fresh mountain air,
Hear the birds chirping,
The stream rushing,
The serenity that encapsulates us at the lake.

This is it.