The Sun Still Came Up This Morning

Thousands of very excited fans filled up legendary Lambeau Field for a playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the NY Giants. 

This photograph and following photograph from Internet

Sunday before the game

Few people could have guessed what kind of game they were to watch.  The Packers had a stellar season and home-field advantage.  And when the home field is Lambeau, that is a real advantage.  (Name another  football town in which the people line up in freezing weather to help shovel snow from the seats and aisles preparing for the game.)  Game tickets had sold out and scalpers were making a lot of money.  Everything went well until the teams took to the field.  Dropped balls, fumbles, inadequate defense, an offensive line that couldn't protect the quarterback...all these problems plagued the Packers.  It was a painful experience for the team and for the fans.

A dejected Aaron Rodgers reflects the mood after the game.

And so a season ends.  Bright with promise with so many early wins and brilliant plays.  It's never fun to lose, but it is really awful to play so poorly.  The Packers beat themselves while the Giants observed.

But you know what?  It was a football game.  A football game.  And so we move on.  Where better to go than to the higher mountains.  (OK, Rocky Mountain readers...these are high mountains to us.)  Winter in the mountains brings  fewer visitors, especially to the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP).  Much of the BRP near us is closed to traffic.  For us that is a good thing.  Closed to traffic means OPEN to pedestrians!  If there is snow it means open to cross-country skiing or simply walking in the snow.

One of our favorite winter destinations is the Cold Mountain Overlook.  The parking lot is kept open although the BRP is closed in both directions.  I love the mountains in winter even without snow.  The air seems so crisp and clear.

A mountain view seen while walking along on the road.

 Cold Mountain itself.  (Yes THAT Cold Mountain)

Elevation 6,030 feet

 And looking in the opposite direction

 You just stand and take in the view.

For some reason, the people walking on the BRP are the nicest folks around.  All of them seem to love dogs and all the dogs seem to be friendly.  Strangers stop and share their feelings about the beauty.  No one seems irritated.  No one seems rushed.  And that is good.  It makes me smile.  The mountains will do that to you.