{This is a response to a prompt from What Pegman Saw. Today the challenge brings us to Mount Everest, but my attentions were quickly diverted to another mountain range, in Peru, which contains the ruins of Machu Picchu. My mother actually did climb Machu Picchu at 70. Since this week is the one-year anniversary of her death, my thoughts go to her, where ever she may be. She brought the pan flute back with her, and it somehow ended up here. Otherwise, this account is fictional. Thanks for reading and for the prompt!}
Frances placed her hands on her ample hips, arms akimbo.
The glowing lumps of emerald, all around, looked as Frances felt: triumphant.
Not a day under seventy, climbing Machu Picchu. Gazing upon the moldering ruins.
These vanished ancients made Frances feel young. No spring chicken, but… a long way from extinction.
This would be the pinnacle of her poetry, the apex of her adventure, the height of her health.
Ahead lay a long slide toward oblivion. A gradual whittling away of her energies, her powers, her muscles. Until all that remained were burnt and brittle bones.
Priestess, Poet, Scholar, Saint: Titles ring hollow, in the bell-tower of Death.
But, at seventy years, in seventy-degree weather, Frances could still feel the sun bake, could still breathe the sweet air, thin and dizzying, like spun sugar.
Fearlessly, placing one sturdy foot in front of the other, Frances hurried toward the beckoning ruins.
A wonderful tribute to your mother. Wow, climbing Machu Picchu. That’s very impressive.
Thanks so much Lignum.
What a wonderful tribute to your mother! Kudos to her for doing it at 70!
I now feel I have a whole lot more ahead of me now!
I’m glad it had a positive effect on you Dale. The middle section came out unexpectedly dark, and I worried it might come off as too negative. I expect great things lie ahead for all of us!
Not so dark as to adversely affect the whole beautiful message.
Have you ever considered making this pilgrimage yourself Andrea? Your mother was a courageous and energetic lady to undertake this feat. May we all be so lucky as her–and as the character in your story. Empowering and authentic.
Thank you Karen I would love to go to. Who knows what the future holds. Still trying to graduate my high schoolers. Its funny, i traveled and stayed abroad for nearly a year in my twenties, but since then I’ve been pretty home-bound, and have instead watched my family members take adventures. Theyre probably almost caught up with me by now, in days abroad, so I guess its time I got moving!.
Ahhh, graduating high schoolers. Me too!
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I love the challenge of climbimg another mountain in reality at seventy. Having survived the ascent of many personal mountains during a long life. Nice story. ?
Thanks John. It’s just another (large and snowy) hurdle. 🙂
Having visited Machu Picchu three times, this was fun to visualize in my mind.
Lucky you! Yes unless youve seen pictures of it or been there its hard to picture how green the green hills appear and the strange feeling of oxygen deprivation at such an altitude. Hope she watches her step!
We could really feel Frances’ experience with many of your sensory phrases
And how cool to have the flute as a memory and sorry for your loss last year ?? – sending condolences
Thanks Prior. I like that instead of focussing on death, she’s living life.
Lovely image of a mature person mastering the physical challenge of reaching Machu Picchu.
Thanks Penny.