In the Time Before the Rivers Freeze

The old man put out his cigarette and took a sip from his coffee. He said, “So you kids just walk the back country roads then?”

The woman smiled, nodded, and said, “That’s right. You know, I am forty-four years old.”

He said, “Aah—just a kid!” He lit up another cigarette and continued, “And you are just doing it for kicks then, eh?”

She said, “Well, not exactly. It is hard to peg a one-size-fits-all meaning for all of us. Hmm. Well, let us just say that we think life is a gift. And how do you best show that you appreciate a gift? Well, by living it. By savoring it. By trying to extract the most from your experience. Most importantly—by having experiences! Become enthralled with the mystery! You never know what awaits around the bend. And I like there always being a bend! I live for the bend!”

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