All my days in the states have been perfect. Blue skies, sunshine, loving family & friends. There is no one word except maybe blessed. I have been truly blessed during my two-week trek through America. But if I had to pick one day, one best day, it would be the day with my sister (Manon) in Yosemite. In a fortnight of perfect days, it was more perfecter.

With our girls weekend cut short by snow, on the last day of summer, we stayed a little more local and traveled to Yosemite instead. We followed the 120 out of Sonora, enjoying the gorgeous golden hills rolling out in all directions… until we hit the steep ascent on Big Oak Flat.  Steep, winding, with big drop-offs this road is not for the faint-hearted. My sister is faint-hearted. She had trouble looking out the window, and begged me to slow down my German-inspired driving. Slowly we twisted and turned our way up to 6,192 feet and approached the park entrance.

A huge shout-out to our National Park Services! Entrance to our National parks is free! What a wonderful gift to our men, women & family in the military. I’ve been to many of the parks across the states, and even after visiting Yellowstone, Yosemite is hands-down my favorite.

Yosemite is just majestic. The sheer rock walls towering over the valley. There is no other place quite like it. There is a smell in the area unique to Yosemite. Part woods, part fall, part clean, part nivea (yes, the cream) all pure and natural. We both desperately wished one of the tents scattered along the valley floor was ours. Manon & I are both campers, not complete gung-ho, back woods, roughing it campers, but basic campsite with a bathroom campers. There’s nothing like sleeping outside, in the cool night air, curled up in a sleeping bag, with the sounds of the forest just outside your tent.

We shook off what we couldn’t have, and embraced what we did have. We grabbed our daypacks, our map, and boarded one of the many free shuttles. We had a day, and a list of things to see. Despite the extremely strong urge to get off at all the stops and see all the things, I stayed on plan and we got off at Mirror Lake.

In my heart-of-hearts I knew Mirror Lake was not mirroring in the late morning. What I didn’t know is that it’s a seasonal lake and it’s only full during the winter runoff. While I was sad not to catch it in it’s full glory, with Half Dome gleaming proud in its reflection, it is a beautiful, short hike up to Mirror Lake. My sister and I ooh’d and aah’d the entire way.

“Its so beautiful.”
“Look how pretty.”
“What a perfect day.”

We realized really soon that we were repeating ourselves. We tried to throw in other words: stunning, amazing, gorgeous, incredible… wow. Manon is a teacher! I write as part of my job. Words failed us. Yosemite is overwhelming. We were stuck on our three key phrases. Over and over.

There are six years between us. Manon was due on my 6th birthday. To this day I’m still angry she was born 3 days late. I bring it up every year, sometimes I’m like a broken record. Despite her late birth, and the six years, we are extremely alike. Something I’ve always known and treasured, but something she is just learning to be true. This day in Yosemite, she finally realized we are twins. Maybe not twin-twins. Or even Irish twins. But definitely sister twins.

We look alike. Walk alike. Think alike. It is what made the day perfect. We go at the same speed. Both our steps and our eyes linger and enjoy the outdoors. There is  no annoyance, no hurry-ups. There is just love and happiness. We didn’t see all the things, but all the things we saw filled us up. Despite sore feet, and matching sore hips, our hearts were filled with beauty and joy.

Manon wanted to savor the moment. Our moment of pure happiness. In front of Half Dome, on the floor of the valley. In a selfie. I’m not selfie experienced, I still lug around a big camera, but I’m game. I stood next to her smiled.

“Get closer.” She said. I got closer.
“A little closer. Put your head next to mine.” She said. I licked her ear (it was RIGHT there!) and my new favorite picture clicked it’s way into existence. Pure happiness.

El Capitan

Bridal Veil Falls

A payphone!

Upper Yosemite Falls

Redwoods

Lower Mirror Lake (it’s seasonal & not mirror-y)

Okay, a little mirror-y!

Half Dome

Yosemite valley past half dome

Green + peaceful

Not me.

Half Dome

Yosemite Valley on the way out of the park

My sister + me. Pure Happiness.