"I don't think my father could do this…"

Early on in the trek we kind of met up with a bunch of young and vibrant Israeli trekkers- a good bunch I must say- all in their early and mid-twenties, all students on vacation. 

As we were making our way up one of the hills one of the me said to me, "You know, I think it is great that you and your son are doing this…I doubt my father could do it.

"Here partner- a tall and muscular guy armed with two long walking sticks (we had none of this)- said, "I think my father could, he is in good shape."

And so I thought- "Hmmm… they see me and think of their father". 

But I? I had no feeling at all of a father, my self-image, my "default ecology" as this cool term has it, did not see a "Ronnie Dunetz father at 54" but was just seeing and feeling as I always have, just like them. 

THEY saw a 54 year old man with his 19 year old son but I just felt that I was one of them doing the same trek.

It is interesting how this thing works- what they see is quite different than what we feel, what we feel they really have no idea about.

My father is soon to be 91- I wonder if he feels he could do this?J….