Wind and Worries.

Wind and air travel freak me out.  Not necessarily on their own but definitely when you combine them.  Soon I will be getting on an airplane with Chris.  Chris is my favorite travel companion when I like him.  Today, I don't feel like I like him very much, but soon we get on a plane together.  We kiss our kids goodbye and trust them to behave and be good little members of society when we are away.  Taylor doesn't worry me so much, she will be fine. Then there is the 8 year old.   Caimbry is a quick witted independent little thing and absolutely lovely when everything goes her way.   Routine is key for her and sadly when we are away, she loses a little of that, she misses my nagging, she won't admit it, but she does ;)  She needs an authoritative hand to guide her.  I will worry about her.

Right now I am worried about the wind.  My house is quiet, I have it to myself, the sound of the wind along with the clicking of my keyboard is surprisingly soothing.  Until I think about it.  Wind and air travel.  I love flying out of Walla Walla, it's easy and usually a very pleasant experience, I don't even mind the small little roller coaster rolls, they are common on quick flights that don't really get up and out of the weather.  It's the big theme park roller coasters with the huge drops that go on forever and leave your belly in your throat-these kind of roller coasters are only bad when you are in the air and there is no track.  Then I worry.  

I like adventure, I like air travel, heights don't bother me much unless I am teetering precariously on the edge of something that could at any moment give way.  Becoming a parent though has made me a worrier.  

Yesterday, a troubled young man walked into LAX with a rifle  and opened fire.  Soon I will be at LAX.  The practical part of me knows that while these incidents are becoming increasingly more common, they are still rare.  If anything, LAX should be safer following such an event and I will be one of many more suspect looking characters that will get an extra little grab.  I've gained weight recently, an extra lotta grab is more likely, bummer for them and a little humiliating for me.  I don't mind it though, I want to feel safe.  This guy though, he opened fire on his way through security.  I guess there is no feeling safe.  Being a parent made me more of a worrier, but this crazy ass world we live in sure isn't helping make me less of one.  All I know is that life is precious and we damn well better live it.  So, that's what I am doing.

In Costa Rica, we will be rafting, class 3-4 rapids.  I haven't really rafted, just once when I was a kid and probably not as wild of rapids. On the website it says you don't have to be experienced.  You also have to sign a paper absolving them from fault if you do die.  I read reviews from people saying they have fallen out of the raft on this adventure.  That will be me.  I will fall out and the other people on my raft will curse me for being the person that keeps delaying the trip because they have to keep saving my damn life.  This is what worries me, not that my life will be jeopardized, but that I will annoy the other rafters who are likely more experienced or at least more athletic adventurers.  So, I should say this is what DID worry me.  Talking with my friend Amanda the other night, I learned of the prevalence of crocodiles in the Costa Rican rivers.  Now, not only do I need to worry about annoying my raft mates, but I now need to worry that those extra pounds I have put on have made me a hearty meal.  

I love adventure, I don't fear many things, but the sad truth is that clumsy, non-athletic people  make poor adventurers.  

We rarely plan our trips out well in advance, luckily we had time for some immunizations and some we already had.  My chances of getting any of the hepatitis's are greatly reduced, I'm covered against Typhoid and apparently my chances of getting Malaria and Dengue fever are determined by how well my bug spray does it's job.  100% strength DEET is also a chemical you shouldn't put on your skin.  Mosquitos like me,  I like to think it's because I am sweet with a pleasant scent, but I have read otherwise.  I don't want to expose my skin to dangerous chemicals, but I also have read about dengue fever and it sounds really quite sucky.  Thankfully malaria is rare there.  

It's a little humbling for me to admit that I also fear walking uphill, and downhill, but mostly uphill.   Our lodge is eco-friendly which means that there is no electricity, there will be a lot of walking in the dark.  I guess it's a long hike uphill in the dark to our suite.  I guess it's only dark after dinner.  I'm glad I don't fear critters, I hear that golfball sized spiders hang out near the toilet.  I like spiders,  not the kind that eat your flesh, but most are OK.  I guess I can proudly admit I am not worried about critters, the more I see, the happier I will be.  Talking about the loo though reminds me that I worry about where the plumbing empties in an eco friendly lodge with no electricity.  Thoughts?  One of the reviewers said they had to throw soiled toilet tissue in the wastebasket.  I worry about the poor cleaning person that has to empty Chris's toilet tissue.  God Bless them.  

Anyway-last week I was worried about being the out of shape rafter who has to keep getting saved, and DEET vs Dengue fever.

This week I am worried about crocodiles (thanks Amanda), air travel and wind.  

My guess is that next week, I will have no worries as a I sway in my hammock surrounded by the beauty, the critters and the sounds of the rain forest while I soak up some good quality time with my husband of 15 years (who I hope to like by then).

(oh and as I hit "enter" I worry about my poor grammar and sentence structure because I am always so excited to post my thoughts and don't make time to edit.  I also worry that people will think my house is empty and try to steal my crap.  For the record-my house is NOT and you will be shot)