I know what you all are thinking: “Why would anyone name a blog after a goofy German folksong?” For readers unfamiliar with the song, below is a terrific performance (complete with yodeling) that I promise will be worth your while: Ah, this brings back memories. When I was seven years old, my friend Beth and I donned our dirndls, marched in time, and sang “The Happy Wanderer” as a duet for our school show. Ostensibly we were singing it in German, coached by Beth’s mom, but given that she taught us to pronounce
My experience of hiking is also linked to the beautiful mountains of Switzerland, as a teenager (so a long time ago) I visited Our Chalet, one of four Girl Guide/ Girl Scout houses in the World. I first came as a skier in the winter of 1976 and then a year later as a summer hiker. I was fortunate enough to have my sister as my guide (no pun intended) as she was a staffer at Our Chalet. I recall the beautiful mountain paths that I am sure you have now trodden too, I also recall one hike in which I had to be dragged complaining to the top…really glad I did it but hated it (and my sister) at the time! To get to the point of my comment “what is in your backpack” the guests at Our Chalet all pitch in to help with chores from sweeping floors to packing lunches. I loved making sandwiches of meat and cheese, filling canteens with water and juice, selecting apples or bananas or oranges one per brown paper bag. But the most coveted job was breaking huge bars of chocolate into pieces (I can’t remember how many squares per bag) but occasionally one would break badly and you could justify eating the broken edges! So in my backpack you will always find some good chocolate. Just the other day I was having a bad day at work, I reached into my bag and pulled out a small piece of chocolate I had forgotten I had there and it made me so happy it brightened my whole day! Wine works as well, but not at 10am!
Thank you Mari for sharing your thoughts with us all!
Some thoughts, some words, come at exactly the right time. Thank you Mari!!!
In my backpack? Friends. That's it. Friends.
Congratulations, Mari, on your first episode of The Happy Wanderer. It’s grea, and we can’t wait for the next one!
My experience of hiking is also linked to the beautiful mountains of Switzerland, as a teenager (so a long time ago) I visited Our Chalet, one of four Girl Guide/ Girl Scout houses in the World. I first came as a skier in the winter of 1976 and then a year later as a summer hiker. I was fortunate enough to have my sister as my guide (no pun intended) as she was a staffer at Our Chalet. I recall the beautiful mountain paths that I am sure you have now trodden too, I also recall one hike in which I had to be dragged complaining to the top…really glad I did it but hated it (and my sister) at the time! To get to the point of my comment “what is in your backpack” the guests at Our Chalet all pitch in to help with chores from sweeping floors to packing lunches. I loved making sandwiches of meat and cheese, filling canteens with water and juice, selecting apples or bananas or oranges one per brown paper bag. But the most coveted job was breaking huge bars of chocolate into pieces (I can’t remember how many squares per bag) but occasionally one would break badly and you could justify eating the broken edges! So in my backpack you will always find some good chocolate. Just the other day I was having a bad day at work, I reached into my bag and pulled out a small piece of chocolate I had forgotten I had there and it made me so happy it brightened my whole day! Wine works as well, but not at 10am!
Thank you Mari for sharing your thoughts with us all!
🦋🧡🦋
The Chardon Polka Band. Better than the tofu recipe. Two bonuses!
Thank uou Mari for such positive enjoyable reading and the Lynn pics too!