Most people have any number of traditions in their lives. You might always visit a particular household around Christmas-time. You might have some kind of routine family gathering around Easter. Your kids might goad you into a Disneyland trip every July. It doesn’t really matter who you are, there are things you do for no other reason than because “it’s tradition.”
One of my favorite traditions started when I was about 12. Every year for Labor Day weekend, I go backpacking. When I was younger, it would be a local trip near the Clackamas River, or a short trip to the base of Mt. Hood. As I got older, I became more adventurous and we started planning longer drives to Bend and beyond. The long weekend gave us the rare opportunity to spend 2 nights backpacking miles away from the middle of nowhere. It was a blast, and I still do what I can to keep the tradition going.
This year, though, I won’t be able to make the trip.
A close friend of mine has decided that the long weekend would be a perfect time for her wedding. Scheduled right in the middle of the extended holiday, it gives everyone the opportunity to make the big day without having to miss or reschedule other events. In reality, I think it’s great planning – particularly since notice was sent out soon enough for those of us who had plans to change them.
So this year, I will break tradition and spend part of labor day weekend in the city sharing in the important, life-defining event of one of my friends.
Because, really, what tradition is more important than being there for your friends when it really counts?
