Mother Nature

My mom once told me, “I prefer hearing about your adventures after they’re done and I know you’re safe.” Well, I had a few close calls on my recent vacation to CO that would qualify…. I’m absolutely safe. And healthy. And without injury. But there were a few harrowing moments along the way.

Mr. Disney, Sookie, and I drove out to CO for a week of fun & relaxation. On our first full day there, Mr. Disney’s niece & nephew convinced us to go tubing on the St. Vrain river. We were headed up to Lyons anyway, why not pack up the inner tubes and slather on the sunscreen in anticipation of a day on the river? It sounded good to me. We met Mr. Disney’s dad for lunch in Lyons and then headed out to the river.

Right before Mr. Disney and I got to CO, they’d had significant snowfall in the mountains. And when we arrived, they were having record heat. In my head, I knew what that meant…. snow melt, fast moving water, high river levels. We got to the put-in spot and I went down to the river with my new family. The water was running high and fast. My vote was to skip it. Mr. Disney looked at it and recalled the fun he’d had as a kid. “It’ll be fine!” He went down the first leg of the river with his nephew. They were both wet when they got to the take-out spot, but safe and full of big smiles. The next leg of the river was run by Mr. Disney’s brother and niece. No problem!

“Karen, give it a try. Why don’t you do the next section with Mr. Disney. It’s so much fun!”

I looked at the water. I took note of the strainers (bushes and trees that act as a sieve in high water). I searched out boulders that might get in my way and didn’t see any (they were under the surface). I tried to gauge the pace of the current. They all made it safely…. surely I would, too. After all, I’ve been on white water rafting trips in CA, TN, AK, and Costa Rica. What’s the harm of tubing a small river in CO? Right??

The first step was making it down to the water’s edge with the tube. Done. The next step was putting my feet in that freezing cold water. Oy! And then Mr. Disney gave me a big smile and pushed off. Only he didn’t land in his tube… and he was going very quickly down river. I gave a quick look at the rest of the family who shouted “GO!” and I hopped on my own tube.

It turns out that it’s really hard to steer an inner tube. I immediately got swept into the fast current and pushed over to the canyon wall. No problem… I pushed off the wall with my feet. When I looked down river to see what my next obstacle might be, I saw that Mr. Disney managed to get on his tube and was easily navigating his way through the water. I, meanwhile, was trying to avoid strainers and low hanging branches along the side of the river. I managed to get back toward the middle of the river and let out my best roller coaster scream as I went down a small rapid and nearly got bounced out of my tube. Mr. Disney directed me to try to get over to our pull-out spot, but I was spinning out of control. He followed me and I paddled as hard as I could to get to the side….

Finally I was in still water. I stood up in 3 feet of water and caught my breath. I looked at Mr. Disney. I looked across the river. And I realized that we were on the wrong side. The water was too high and fast to try to walk across, something you’d normally be able to do. That’s when Mr. Disney said what I didn’t want to hear. “We need to hop back on and go a little further down river.” No thank you. I’d like my rescue helicopter now, please.

We scouted the river. We just had to make it around the next bend and get over to the other side. It seemed simple enough. Except that nothing about tubing that day was simple. I took a deep breath and followed him back into the water. I paddled hard, I avoided branches, and I was able to latch arms with Mr. Disney. He was strong enough to pull us over to the correct side of the river and when I saw his nephew on the banks, I hollered. We rolled down another small rapid and his nephew reached his extra long arms out to grab me. “I’ve got you,” he said. “Stand up.” I stood and  scrambled as fast as I could to dry land. I looked at the family and said, “No me gusta!” They all smiled and laughed. By that evening, I was laughing too.

Two days later, the paper reported that the river was closed to water sports. Thank goodness we made it!

 

Remember when

Remember when I decided to go to grad school? Remember when I was accepted to the program at Northwestern? Remember when Susan & I drove up to my new Chicago home and marveled at the fact that I was steps from the beach? Three years ago, on July 10, I started my new life in Chicago. Wow!!

I realize updates have been conspicuously absent from the blog-o-sphere, but it’s not for lack of things happening.

• The new house on Buena is a wonderful home. Mr. Disney and I love all the open space, and Sookie enjoys looking out the windows at the world below.
• On a Friday night in April Mr. Disney said those 4 words… “Will you marry me?” My answer was immediate and obvious. We’re both still mesmerized by the sparkle of my ring in the light.
• I was asked to speak at the graduation ceremony for my program. I prepared, I practiced, and I got a little weepy in spite of myself.
• After six months of working (and working and working), I got to take a 10-day vacation to Colorado. It was a beautiful road trip out and back with the dog. The sights and sounds of Colorado were rejuvenating.

So now it’s time to start another phase of my life. This time, I have Mr. Disney and Sookie the Super Dog by my side. It is bound to be a grand adventure!

   

 

Buena

The time has come. Mr. Disney and I are merging households! Before we started looking in earnest, we made a list of things we’d like to have:

• small building
• parking space
• top floor with lots of light
• gas stove
• washer/dryer in unit
• near the lake
• close to public transportation
• outdoor space

We looked at a few places in the neighborhood, a few places in new neighborhoods, and a couple of options online we could only dream about renting. When we saw the condo on Buena, it was good. Mr. Disney was aloof, but I walked around oohing and aaahing at the pocket doors, the old-fashioned crystal doorknobs, the decent sized kitchen and big bedrooms…. I think it was the sun room and walk-in pantry that really got me. The deck, Viking stove, and ceiling fans were a bonus! I walked around and mentally checked things off my list: 3rd floor, across the street from the lake path, washer/dryer, 3 BR/2 Ba, parking, dog-friendly. Check! We waited a few days, asked a few questions, and put in our application to rent the place. On Friday, Mr. Disney got the call. We’re in!!

We’ve got plenty of time to pack up both households and move to our new home before April 1. We will have plenty of room for visitors, so plan your trip to Chicago and know there’s a great place to stay on Buena.

 

A Year

Today is the one year anniversary of when Mr. Disney and I met. It was a bitterly cold winter night and we had to improvise on our date destination when our first plan fell through. Now, a year later, my life is full of warmth, even on the coldest nights. I am happier than I knew was possible, sharing my days and nights with this man I love.

On this night last year, we tried taking super cute candid photos in the photo booth. It didn’t work out (the photos were taken, but they were not super cute). This year, we tried again… I’m not sure the results are much better. But the happiness is there! That’s all that matters.

 

Perfect

Shut. The Front. Door.

I am done with graduate school. I mean, I still have to go through the motions of having a few checkboxes marked on some forms, but I am done. I finished my external practicum at my dream placement on Friday. I came home to a house full of purple & white balloons from Mr. Disney and a very happy puppy.

As if that wasn’t perfect enough, this morning there was snow. REAL snow!!! Mr. Disney, Sookie and I went out for walk to our local park and played with another dog. And then we made a snowman. An actual snowman! I’ve lived in Chicago for two winters and have never been successful with snowman construction, but today, because it is a perfect moment for me, it happened.

I am happier than ever and am looking forward to the next chapter. I get to celebrate graduation with family and friends next week, I get to enjoy a couple of weeks off, and then I start my dream job.

My mom always told me things have a way of working out. She was right!

 

Next

Can you believe it’s already been two years?! In a few short weeks, I will graduate from the Speech-Language Pathology program at Northwestern University. In a few short weeks, I’ll be celebrating with my family and marveling at the knowledge I’ve gained. In a few short weeks, I’ll be able to put  “MA, CF-SLP” after my name.

I don’t know exactly what the next chapter will entail, but I do know I’ve got peace of mind. The last two years have been a tumult of emotion  — eagerness, joy, defeat, curiosity,  exhaustion, optimism, anticipation, disappointment, relief, delight. And now, as I lean into the next phase of my life, I feel happiness most of all.

There’s sure to be a lot of change in the next six months; I’ll find a clinical fellowship (a paid position!), I’ll find a new home to share with Mr. Disney & Sookie, and I’ll tackle life’s challenges with the knowledge that I can do just about anything. I just have to lean forward and embrace whatever comes next.

 

 

Elevation

I’ve always been a good hiker. It’s something I enjoy – getting away from the hustle and bustle, breathing in the fresh air, and gazing up at a peak or a tree trunk or out over a valley floor. So last year when my good friends invited me on their annual Labor Day backpacking trip, I accepted.

Here’s the thing. I love hiking, but I don’t love camping. I figured I’d get over it. I talked through my anxieties with my backpacking guides/friends:  What if we saw a bear? What if I couldn’t carry my pack? What if I couldn’t sleep? What if I couldn’t fit all my stuff in my pack? What if my lack of depth perception sent me tumbling down a mountain? There were a lot of “what if’s” and my friends did an amazing job of assuaging my fears.

It was a six day trek along the Rae Lakes loop in Kings Canyon National Park. The scenery was amazing, especially once we got up above 10,000 feet. The pack was full and when it got too heavy for me to handle in high elevation, my crew took on more weight. I learned how to filter water like a pro, how to dig a hole each morning to manage my personal business, how to inflate my Thermarest enough so I didn’t get bruises on my hips from sleeping on my side, and how to pack up my tent.

I’m not going to lie, though. It was rough. I didn’t adjust to steep elevation changes well. I lost my coordination and started hyperventilating. More than once. There was no rescue helicopter circling overhead, no pack of horses to carry my food or shelter, and no option except to dig deep and carry on.

We climbed to the pass on day 5 after having a day of rest and relaxation at Rae Lake. I took it slow up the steep switchbacks. I willed my feet to move forward and used my hiking poles to clamber up the granite steps built in to the mountain. When I made it to the pass, at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, I raised my arms in victory. And then I lost my balance on the razor edge of the peak and had a freak out. My crew held on to me as we took a few photos. I sat down and got my bearings. Then the best part of the hike began… we started heading DOWN.

It was a good experience, overall. And now I can say I’ve been backpacking. I think I’ll go back to being a hiker now.

 

Sweetness

We’ve been talking about it for a while…. Wouldn’t it be nice to get a dog? Mr. Disney and I pointed out dogs to each other on our runs at the lake and we usually agreed on the size, breed, and general energy level of the dogs we spotted. Then we went to CA to visit family and we spent time with Sonny, Spatz, and Maddie. Each night before we went to sleep, I’d whisper to Mr. Disney, “I want a dog.” He’d respond with a smile.

I got back to Chicago Monday night. On Tuesday, Mr. Disney and I went to PAWS Chicago to look for a dog. We saw all kinds of dogs – shepherds, pit bulls, beagles, huskies – all of them putting on a show in an attempt to convince us to adopt. They were  cute, but none were exactly right. We were just about to leave when we turned a corner and saw her.  A young, feisty, bundle of happiness with expressive eyebrows, floppy ears, and a back end that moves faster than her front end.

After taking her into a separate room to play, Mr. Disney was convinced. I was aloof.  Was this really the right time? I want a dog, but does it make sense while we still have two households? Should we be practical or follow our hearts? I was getting ready to talk some sense into Mr. Disney when I heard someone else comment on our dog. “Oh, she’s so cute! What about this one?” I turned to Mr. Disney and said, “Let’s adopt her. I don’t want anyone else taking our dog home.”

It’s been 6 days of puppy bliss. We named her Sookie /sʊki/. She is starting to learn her name, she is very good at sitting, she loves playing with other dogs, she learned how to dig in the sand at the lake, she has a growl and bark that belie her sweet nature, and she makes us insanely happy.

And for those interested in hearing her puppy growl, a video of a play session with Mr. Disney:

 

Vacation

Summer has finally arrived in my world! I’m done with classes, I’m done with my diagnostic placement at the local hospital, I know where I’ll be for the fall practicum, and I passed the Praxis exam that gets me one step closer to being a certified SLP. Fantastic!!

I started my celebration with an amazing Friday night dinner, prepared for me by Mr. Disney. We opted to stay in — he’s got air conditioning — rather than head out on the town for a celebration. It was perfect.

My start of summer also coincided with the 2010 Chicago Air & Water Show. Mr. Disney has friends who head down to the beach early in the morning to stake out a center stage spot on the lake. We rode our bikes there around 1pm and watched the aerial acrobatics of a bi-plane team, enjoyed the view of a thousand sailboats on the horizon, and shouted with glee as the Blue Angels screamed overhead. I was lucky enough to see the same thing from a rooftop deck downtown on Sunday as I shared the air show with Tanya and her family. The roar of those jets never gets old.

Yesterday was my first official day of vacation and I enjoyed it. I plan on clocking some beach time and reading a few books for fun in the next week before heading to CA for wild adventures in both southern and northern quadrants of the state. I remember now how much I like vacation.

 

Float

In the beginning of July, I got to spend a couple of weekends with Mr. Disney at a house in Green Lake, WI. Imagine the houses you read about in The Great Gatsby – white behemoths with wrap-around porches decorated in red, white and blue bunting for the summer, situated on the lake with private docks and sprawling lawns. And up there, nearer to the road, there might be a small guest house. It’s a magical place.

We were staying in the guest house for the weekend. The place is owned by the family of one of Mr. Disney’s dearest friends and that family was up in the big house. Well, sometime on Saturday, the family stopped by to ask if Mr. Disney would be around on Sunday to help out with a project. They wanted to try and land their float plane on the lake and bring it to shore in front of the big house. Seriously??? A float plane? Holy mazoley! I was ready, able, and willing to help with this project.

Sunday morning was a perfect summer day — high clouds, blue sky, and warm temperatures. Mr. Disney and I coordinated timing with the family and set out on a run along the country roads before we’d be required to help. When we got back and were cooling off on the porch, I heard a loud engine that was markedly different from the motor boats we’d been hearing all weekend. “The plane!!” Yes, I yelled it. I ran down to the lake and searched the skies…. the plane was nowhere to be seen. Within 15 minutes, though, we saw the plane circle the lake and I got excited all over again.

The pilot buzzed the big house and circled the lake one more time, presumably checking out his runway options. The lake had some boat traffic, but it was still early in the day and the hoards of people weren’t out yet. I stood on the shore and held my breath as the pilot brought the plane down on the lake with grace. He turned the plane and slowly brought it closer to shore, somehow managing to remain patient as the weekend warriors in pontoon boats simply sat and stared until they realized they needed to get out of his path.

Once the pilot turned off the motor, Mr. Disney and I waded out into the lake and grabbed a line attached to the pontoons. We pulled the plane closer to shore and then turned it around so the nose was facing out. I was so focused on my job — pull this way, don’t grab there, now push it forward, watch the rudders — that I didn’t notice the crowds gathering on the lawn. The landing brought curious neighbors from both sides of the big house out of the woodwork. They introduced themselves, asked questions, and did their best to get friendly with the pilot. Well, it turns out that the best way to get on  a float plane pilot’s good side is to help guide the plane to shore. He offered Mr. Disney and me an IOU flight in the future. That means I get to go to Green Lake again (yes!) and I get to have an aerial adventure. I love this charmed life!