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.