The year that was

The Husband and I had just finished hiking Mount Sinai.

Our trek was made in the dark, starting around 1 a.m., with a bedouin as our guide up the mountain. We reached the peak in time to hunker down, wrap ourselves in heavy blankets and watch the sunrise. Then, hungry and exhausted, we walked back down again.

I wasn’t focused on much more than putting one tired foot in front of the other. Suddenly I noticed my husband was lagging behind.

When I looked back, he was crouched next to a little girl. Her eyes were red and her expression was pinched and panicked.

“What’s wrong?” my husband asked her.

She was sniffling too much to speak.

“Did you fall?” he said. As much as we both wanted to run down that mountain and get back to our hostel, my husband was being patient and sweet.

The girl took a few deep breaths, then rattled out a string of words, none of which I understood.

“Parlez-vous francais?” my husband asked. “Español?”

She tried communicating again, and a few words clicked in my head.

“She’s Russian,” I said. “And I think she lost her parents.”

“It will be OK. Come with us,” my husband said slowly. He explained with kind eyes and a gentle smile what his words couldn’t.

She followed us down the trail. I gave her an orange. She clutched it to her chest and offered me half a smile.

As we passed people on the trail, my husband desperately looked for someone who spoke Russian. Finally, a multilingual tour guide was able to help. With a couple of phone calls, her parents were located and the girl was reunited with them.

That incident crystalizes what has made 2010 such an extraordinary year for me.

I am so grateful for every moment of my entire life that has led me to this place.

I am grateful for the adventure of climbing mountains in the dark.

I am grateful for the stillness of watching the sun pop out over layers of blue peaks.

I am grateful I married the right man.

I am grateful for my husband’s wide open heart.

I am grateful for the opportunity to see more of this fantastic world.

I am grateful for meaningful interaction with other people — sharing a moment, using smiles to cross language barriers, making a connection.

Above all, I am grateful for the fresh slate of 2011 and all the richness and beauty it will bring.

Happy New Year, everyone. Here’s to 365 days of awesomeness for all of us.