Yesterday. Husband traveling. Me: sore throat. Sluggish, low energy. All day Madison looking for something to do. All day talking about how she wants to improve her time in the 1-mile school run next spring. We bake muffins together. Asks me to go run with her. All day there are distractions. Other kids to take and pick up. Dinner to make. No time to run. I didn't really want to, anyway. Didn't think it would come to pass. Yet there we were at 7:30 p.m., together outside in shorts, tshirts, and running shoes. I showed her some stretches. We walked to the corner and started to run. Her plan: one mile to the lake playground. Get a drink. One mile back. 

As we ran, she kept up a chirpy mostly one-sided conversation. "This feels pretty good! How do you feel, Mom? It's kind of embarrassing when we run past people and they smile at me! Why are they smiling, Mom?" I notice her pure happiness. I notice the still, beautiful lake and the cool breeze that comes off of it as we pass by. I notice the sun beginning to set and wonder why I haven't done this every night of the summer, it's so beautiful. 

We go through the tunnel and up the hill, deciding to stop when we get to the bike rack by the playground. A drink; a quick bathroom stop for her. We take a minute to look out over the lake and then we start back. A little harder. She keeps up her chatter, matching my stride. So many comments that I struggle to contain the huge smile on my face. A stomach cramp but she is a trooper. She is so happy. I am so happy. Earlier at dinner, we had all shared the high point and low point of our day. I couldn't come up with a high point. My low point had been some trouble with Madison.

As we round the corner and turn into our driveway, she says '"I love you so much, mom." 

I have found my high point.  And I smile all night.