A Week of Adventure

My mission this week is a slight twist on the old saying, "Do one thing every day that scares you." While I can't commit to bungee jumping or asking guys out every day this week, I can commit to doing something new or different (picture worthy) every day. I'm a few days into this so I'm going to try to catch you all up. I can't wait to see what the rest of the week will hold. A true reminder that everything in life is an adventure if you look for it. So, here we go.

Day One: 

Wear a sombrero and allow a picture to be taken. This one was in honor of my friend, Erin's, birthday. Friends and margaritas all around. The adventure this night was the conversation!!

Day Two: 

Start my community garden for the year. A little manure helped to break in my new cowboy boots. Add a little mulch, and we have the beginnings of a little greenery in the ghetto. I already have some chives popping up and am looking forward to seeing what else survived the winter. 

Day Three:

Spend 12 straight hours with my best friend, eating, exploring Fremont, antiquing and laughing our guts out. Fun find of the day, this old beer barrel that had been converted into a picnic table, complete with lighting. The scary part of the day was that I spent my money on breakfast at Delice, lunch on the run from Jimmy Johns and dessert at Zesto's for Ry, Sar and myself. Thank goodness Ryan served up a healthy dose of Boca burger for dinner or I'd be in the poorhouse!

Day Four:

Take a group of friends on a silent, contemplative hike. What I thought to be an "easy" 4-mile loop, turned into an after-dark rescue as a few members wandered **miles** off trail. Headlamps signaling, whistles blowing and celebratory beer and pizza after all were recovered. Great to put all of that training to use. Always remember your ten essentials!! 

(sorry I don't have pics of the rescue effort. It wasn't our priority as I'm sure you'll understand)

What A Girl Blogs

  Why blog? I often ask this of myself and others every time I scroll through my standard blog series. I check certain blogs as consistently as I check the weather or hulu for the latest episode of The Office. I even check my best friend's blog from vacation on my Blackberry. Why? Often, I worry that it's out of boredom, which may be true, however, lately I am discovering that I find something cathartic in the consistency of normal people's "everyday lives." I genuinely find peace in knowing that even in times of change, some things will never change. 

  This point was driven home for me this past week as my mom and I made a surprise appearance at the childhood home of my best friend from elementary school/junior high (we were invited, but weren't announced). I hadn't seen this friend in 5 years! Since a few weeks after I watched her firstborn be delivered (a tremendous honor). I worried that there would be nothing to say, that we'd have nothing in common anymore. She is, after all, married with 3 kiddos now! I am not, much to the dismay of some. Sometimes, when long periods of time pass between friends catching up, there are moments of awkwardness. Desperately looking for the level of intimacy you had when last you spoke, but having missed out of the mundane experiences (i like to call it the meat) of one an other's lives.

 The blessing in this week's experience is that, while we had missed out on so much...SO MUCH was the same. In five years, both my friend and her mother were exactly the same. Don't mistake this for an insult. They were both the same warm, kind, inviting, vibrant, charismatic women that I remember spending countless hours with through my youth. So much has changed in their lives, and in mine, but the things that REALLY count...they were exactly the same. It made me consider my own growth. I feel I have changed so much, even in the last week, let alone 5 years! BUT I hope that in some areas, I will always remain consistent. I hope that the same qualities of good that I possess today, will be the same in 10, 20, 50 years.

  So, why do I read blogs? Because I find comfort in knowing that simplylivingsarah will always be considering the love of her dad, that sarahlookingin will continue to challenge herself with new creative ideas and that ilovethekitchen will find a new spice to add to an old favorite. I even relish in the idea that no matter how much we try to perfect the world, there will always be cakewrecks. I find comfort in knowing that no matter where we are, we strive to be better, different people, while consistently embracing who we are right now.