Please tell me that you also become overwhelmed with the beauty of this world. Today, was a special day for us as we climbed to the peak of Moro Rock, a granite dome-shaped monolith in California's Sierra Nevada range. The last time that we visited Moro, my daughter and I could not will our legs to take another step higher. We started giggling in a panic at one point. There was absolutely nothing funny about our terror, and yet - the nervous laughter would not be silenced! About two-thirds of the way up, we surrendered to our defeat, clinging to one another on a small carved out observation deck.

Today, our previous defeat already loomed before us. We began challenging each other to make it to the top. Despite my daughter's pleas, I hesitated to make a pact. I would rather not disappoint her so close to the top again. Let's just see what happens.

On the drive up, I started to feel a little headache. Figuring I had better head off any migraine at the pass, I took some medicine on a semi-empty stomach. Bad idea.

Excitement and determination pushed us forward with a steady, aggressive pace up the granite. I felt great, until my ears popped. Immediately, nausea set in as strong pressure squeezed my jaw and inner ear in a vice. My legs turned to jelly, my lips went cold and black specks in my eyes grew larger and merged until they blocked out half of my vision. As the saying goes, I'm not afraid of heights - I'm just afraid of the fall. Unless I stopped climbing immediately, I was going to perform a much more exciting way to descend the granite slope.

Everyone was telling me to stop moving. I'm not sure if the blood rushing in my ears was blocking them out - or just my stubborn streak to NOT let this Rock defeat me once again. I paused for a bit, recuperated, heard my baby's words in my ears, and made the decision that victory would be mine today.

View from the Top

On this day #6 of the Gratitude challenge - I'm thankful for the beauty of this world, specifically the Granite Dome that threatened to defeat me. Not today, Moro. Not today.

I learned how to use this lovely little slider tool from Hive account@silversaver888! She often uses it on her posts! Since seeing it, I've been waiting for the perfect set of pictures to try it out! Hope you enjoy my little victory today in these photos!