Seeing an Old Friend Again

A Mother's Day gift. Yosemite Valley. It's taken me about 15 years to get back to the Valley in spring. And when I return it's like seeing an old friend again. Which means even more when you're there with a true old friend. So we drive ALL night and get to Wawona about 5:00am. Ugh. We're a bit delirious--fun conversation, lots of laughs, and sleeping children. Good conditions, other than the total lack of sleep. We snooze for a bit in our sleeping bags in the car. Camp 4 (only first come first serve camp in the Valley) opens at 8:30, but there's usually a line. We get there about 8:00 and wait. And wait and wait. We get our campsite, just pass the famous "Ron Kauk" rock. After hours of hauling our stuff in from the car, we've got our camp set up. Whew.       We cruise up to Bridalveil Falls. It's crowded on Mother's Day.  But the the water cleanses me. We drive through the Valley, and I admire Half Dome and El Cap. Perfect granite sculptures that have been away from me too long. The falls are huge. Upper and lower rush forth, and the excitement and nostalgia of being back here fills me with joy.