Monday, June 7, 2010

Lord, let me live until I die

Lord, let me live until I die. - Will Rogers

The great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in pain. -Lord Byron

I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it. ~ Jack Handey

I've been wanting to start a post off with quotes. For the heck of it. Speaking of which, not that I planned it this way, but I did a number of things this past week just for the heck of it. Like rappelling 163 ft down a cavern (with interesting/v. nice Christmas tree/dodgeball dude) despite my completely irrational fear of heights ...

Where does that fear come from? Did I fall off a really tall building in a former life?


Anyway, the worst part was, after making it down the first 30 feet to this natural ledge, I looked over and downwards through this small opening to see the other 130 feet I still had left to go, and all the itty bitty people who'd be looking up at my nice, womanly ass for the next twenty, thirty minutes. Stepping through that hole just might have been the single most terrifying moment of my life.


After that the idea of zip lining through the air didn't seem as scary...

Wheee!!!!

Saturday, despite not having registered for the event, I snuck into a 5K marathon (See Jane Run) with my life long buddy, Lita, and her friends. The race started at 8:30 am. We finished an hour and twenty minutes later (we were in no hurry, believe me) and by 11 am we had enjoyed copious amounts of (free) champagne, sunshine (am sunburned now---ouch!) and girl talk.
One of her friends, by the way, was facing the imminent death of her mother from cancer. Though you wouldn't know it by her readiness to laugh which says a lot, I think, about her strength of character and maturity.

Later that day, Lita did a tarot card reading for me. Naturally, I asked ---Hello! Where the heck is my dream job? Whether you believe in this stuff or not, my answer seemed appropriate: 1. Faith - Trust that I'm where I need to be. Be patient and know that it is happening. 2. Flow - It's time to let go. Everything is falling into place.

Okay...I will do my best to have faith that my seeds are sprouting. I will trust in that answer.

Sunday afternoon, in the city, I danced the tango. Is there any better dance? The mutual give and take required is such a great metaphor for any human relationship. The more open, trusting, spontaneous and able to reciprocate you are, the more enjoyable and beautiful the dance...
One of my dance partners, by the way, was this very old man (at least in his late eighties) who had shuffled across the stage and down the steps just to ask me to dance. How could I say no? Halfway through the song, though, it occurred to me that I hadn't see him holding his other dance partners this close. And I wondered is this gentleman not quite so gentlemanly...or is this the best way for newbies like me to learn the tango? Whatever. I found him pretty amusing, in any case. Hope I'm that fully engaged and full of life when I reach that age.

15 comments:

  1. OMG you have to be the most interesting person I "know"!!!!!!!!!! You repelled a cliff wall, you danced a tango and RAN a 5k ALL IN ONE WEEKEND?!? OMG, can I be you when I grow up? You are AMAZING! I am so impressed. Go you! Just... wow. You're awesome.

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  2. That sounds like a wonderful weekend. Everyone should get to dance a Tango with someone 50 to 60 years their senior at least once in their life :)

    The Tarot cards gave you some good advice. The only thing I would ad is my favorite quote from Mr. Walt Disney - "Keep moving forward". And it looks like that's exactly what you're doing.

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  3. Hi Maggie, funny I didn't look at it that way until I read your comment. Wonder what I'll do next weekend?....

    Hi Chris, 60! 60 years older...Yeah, the reading did put me more at ease. I do feel the truth of it in my gut. The trick is to keep from growing impatient. And I guess 'moving forward' takes care of that. So long as I stay busy...

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  4. That sounds like a very fun weekend.

    I find that doing something active leaves you with a sense of accomplishment, even if the activity wasn't particularly productive.

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  5. there is a lot of life, happiness and bravery in this post. kudos to you. :)

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  6. Action girl! Wow, Cheryl, you are such an inspiration to us all. Live life to the full, face those fears, let go and trust all will be well, and dance life's dance. You're amazing! xx

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  7. Hahaha! Some of the things you say, BB are so endearingly funny. It was a fun weekend. Hope I enjoy this upcoming one no matter what I end up doing...

    Hi Drollgirl, thank you, what a wonderful thing to say!!! :)

    Hi Carol Anne, yes...feel the fear and do it anyway, another thing the cards told me to do. And we are both amazing!!! N'est pas? XX

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  8. thank you so much for your sweet comment -- i really appreciate it. :)

    and i hope things are going well for you today. hang in there.

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  9. No problemo, drollgirl! Already said, but yes things are going really, really well! Keeping fingers crossed!!!! :)

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  10. If you spent an hour and twenty minutes to make 5K, obviously you were not really in a hurry, but it must have been a nice moment. I wouldn’t believe that champagne iis offered on a real marathon! :-)

    Tango, would be another reason for soon coming to Paris! Danced every nice weather evening on the Seine quays. Maybe you saw my post about it? http://peter-pho2.blogspot.com/2009/07/tango-dancing.html

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  11. Hi Peter, no we were most definitely not in a hurry. We saw lots of little kids zooming past us...

    I've danced the tango there! Back in college, ten, eleven years ago. So fun! And yes, I did see that post --- beautiful photos!!!

    And I'll take any excuse to go to Paris ;)

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  12. Your posts are so full of life and creativity . . . dance the tango, rappel down into the belly of the earth, and return connected to everyone. What gifts you bring. Thank you as always for being such a faithful reader . . .

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  13. Thanks Beth!!! I suppose I do have a lot to be grateful for. Even in my crankier moods...

    And no problemo, soul sista!!! I love your poetry!!!

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  14. You know how to tango? You are SO cool!!! And you faced that fear so willingly? Good grief... I could LEARN from you!!!

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  15. Hi Shannon, I'm just a beginner, but I really love it! No tedious steps to learn. You just have to get the hang of moving a certain way. And really the guy does all the work. Hope you give it a try. If I can do it, you definitely can! :)

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