Winter, 1999. I’m sitting, or really, collapsing on the south face of Brundage Mountain, in McCall Idaho. My gloves have been haphazardly strewn several feet behind me, I’m freezing as tears flood my face-mask. I’m not hurt, not really, but by the looks of it, I warranted several worried inquires as fellow skiers and snowboarders passed by. Then again, I was in the middle of the trail-I knew I was making a scene. I unclip my board and anchored into the snow, burying my face into the sleeve of my ski-jacket. It wasn’t a bad spill, and besides, I was used to it-my fall to successful navigation ratio was near 1:1. But I hated it, I hated the clamped feeling of anxiety knowing I might fall or lose control; speed was not my friend, it never has been. And yet here I was, headstrong and determined to be good at this despite every instinct to stay in the lodge. My Dad, ever patient stands near me, waiting for this “episode” to pass, he knows I’ll get over it, and how he stood there on more then a few occasions as I cursed at my snowboard and anything related is beyond me. But I get up, I finish, and slowly I get better. Not fly-down-the-mountain on a double black better, but easily navigate a blue, and that’s enough for me.
Tag Archives: Reflections
Acceptance.
I was wrong. And I couldn’t be more thrilled.
For the past two years I’ve had this insatiable need to travel, and sitting still? Not an option. I thought, because I’ve heard so often from well-meaning people “travel now, while your young, once you have a family, blah blah blah.” So, I panicked. I envisioned the American Dream-the house, kids, 9-5 as the ultimate prison. A slow wait to death-dramatic, I know. And hardly accurate, a projection of fear more than a reality. It’s just not for me. And certainly at only 24 settling down is far from my mind. So? So I could choose to travel the world, be a professional nomad. But in reality, I would be giving up too much. I do, actually, want kids eventually. And I thought, I had to choose. So back to panic.
Meanwhile, Back in LA.
Nearly 30 hours after we began, we arrive home. No delays, no lost baggage, and only minimal customs fan fair. Arduous, certainly, but thankfully uneventful.
This time of return is always a hazy-euphoric event. The spell of travel has not yet lifted, as we observe what was once familiar with new eyes. Routes etched deeply feel fresh, the grind of the day to day is pleasantly far from our minds. Everything is again, beautiful and interesting as if you were seeing it for the first time, with the benefit of the knowledge that this is home. These simple pleasures, of hot showers and favorite foods, the comfort of our own bed and thorough command of our surroundings make this ephemeral time almost as blissful as travel itself. The spell of course, will be broken as daily tasks must be completed, bills paid, errands run, but for now we’ll bask in the surreal haze, recount our stories and think to the future and our next adventure. And of course, eat Mexican food.
Homeward Bound.
Today, or rather tonight, at 11:15pm we head to DC. Thus far our plane is scheduled on time, and we’re waiting out our time at the mall.
Colliding With The Earth 