I had an unexpected experience today that was totally enjoyable and made me feel really good about myself and my life. At 76, I never thought I would ever do something like that. One of the realities of aging is the feeling that you’re too old to try anything worthwhile, and too set in your ways to attempt an adventure.

I suppose I’m a little like Bilbo and Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, in that a new adventure sounds just too exciting to resist. Golden moments in your waning years can feel few and far between.

Picture this: nine floaties of varying designs carrying friends and family, plus my grandson in the lone kayak. I plopped down into my double floatie with my nephew beside me, and the river water felt refreshing and cool against my legs. As we began drifting downstream in the gentle current, I was amazed at how good it felt.

Ninety‑three degrees, bright sunshine, and a gentle breeze made the day feel perfect. The canopy on my floatie gave me shade, and the wet towel over my legs for sunburn protection made for a wonderful start to our three‑mile trek down the river. Tangled tree roots along the banks looked like Medusa heads, and the scenery all around was beautiful. My grandson, acting as our guide and making little drift corrections, made the journey even more enjoyable.

The river was very shallow in places, with fallen branches, hanging tree limbs, and large rocks to avoid — some of them hidden beneath the murky water. All of it gave us the feeling of traversing an unknown pathway through a jungle passage.

The entire journey was filled with laughter and excitement, with squirt pistols, drifting conversations, and the easy meandering of friends and kids all around us. It truly felt like an adventure — simple, joyful, and full of fun. Too bad it ended so quickly, but it was a memorable experience I won’t soon forget.