I drag my teenage sons into the woods for a walk. The morning air is cold and silent. “I feel like galloping,” I say out loud. They roll their eyes, muttering about what a stupid, embarrassing idea that is, so I just take off, fast. The younger one critiques my galloping style (“you have to clap your feet together or it doesn’t sound right”). He flies past to demonstrate. The older one follows, impersonating my ridiculous, loping gait. On and on we gallop down the trail, wind in our lungs—a giggling, shrieking stampede. Has there ever been such joy?
Tammy Donroe Inman writes books in Waltham. Her older son graduates from high school this year. Website: tammydonroe.com