A Rock without a Plan

Did I ever impose the fact that I do anything in a consistent manner? Believe me I do think about doing things in a routine fashion, but it never seems to work out. I'm an all or nothing kinda girl, it's not because I don't have the drive, that's there, but I lack the focus. For instance, I've been intending to write a little something(s). I walk my way to the computer and somehow I totally get sidelined with "Mom, can I have something to eat?" or more frequently Avery's favorites: "Diiiaapurrr!" meaning "please, for the love of God, change this disgusting wad of gelatinous goo I'm sitting in", "Wappulll!" waffle, an all occasion favorite, or "Bing!" for swing, an all day activity that doesn't end until the other two are mentioned or Mommy's arm falls off. Somehow, I appreciate the fulfillment of my days - rather than boredom I find the franticness one has when one's husband is about to walk in the door into a house of chaos (but good intentions).

I have something I want to put to memory and though I'm a little late, I'd like to share it with you. Friday, my oldest friend, Jennifer came to visit. She moved back to D-Town from Arizona. I picked her up at the airport after I dropped Will at school 20 minutes late. He was a trooper helping me last minute clean, where in the throws of making the guest bed I found myself color coordinating his closet (???) So, Friday night we went to Mirasol on Blanco. It's so good - she and I enjoy our cheese, jalapenos, Margaritas in which we both had one. However, I don't drink often and she is very small, therefore their secret ingredient (Everclear) hit us a little hard. Half way through the meal, slurping it down I have no clue that I'm chewing (the garnish)and 'Fer is 2 sips in. After dinner, we leave and head directly to any store open for some HAPPY shopping. I need pajamas and she needs a bathing suit which apparently in our state "is the easiest way to overlook the second butt". She's not the one with THAT problem, trust me, but we waddle around in the dressing room, laughing like hyenas, grabbing our thighs, and pushing them back up were they belong! Unfortunatly, we stay up too late. And somehow, I fail to inform her that we're going to Enchanted Rock... With the family... IN THE MORNING. Opps! But if she wears her new bikini she can get a tan!

Saturday comes quickly. Dave sleeps in and I'm up early packing the essentials (bugspray, water, Nilla Wafers) with the kids. 11am we head out a little slow, but anxious to go (and get it over with). We drive through Fredericksburg, where I could totally stop and get out to shop. We arrive at this amazing place; I am renewed and ready to hike it on up. But how do we get up there? Not too sure there any signs, here...

Two hours later, we've abandoned Avery and a reluctant William with Dave to splash after tadpoles. We meander through uncharted territory, looking for signs of life, and reach a arrow sign. Seriously, we have jumped over boulders, crossed rapids on teetering rocks, and haven't seen a thing, expect for a huge mountain of a rock that gets a little bigger the closer we get. After a little complaining (no, never)we are at the foot of the rock. Then, after a burning sensation in the thigh has numbed, we're reach the mid point.

Jennifer announces "Okay, so why don't you take a picture. We can pretend we're there and start our way back."
And unfortunately, I can't. I can't be so close and not get to the top. There is no enticing me here, sister.

"Don't worry, you can stay here, I'm have to go up."

Like the good friend she is she stays on and in agony, we keep going. It's rough, I'm not gonna lie. Sure, I think I can run forever, and Fer can do Yoga 5X a week but this hiking thing is a different story. So, I'm feeling guilty for dragging her along, and this guilt makes me chatty.
"I can't talk right now." She responds in a windless short of way.

Nevertheless, we reach the top, take a picture, and have a seat to study the map for a closer way back. Thirty minutes later, we round the corner in the opposite way we started, and sitting in the car is Dave, Avery, and Will munching on treats.

There are signs we find out. You have to start in the right direction. And this, my friends, is a long way to say, I'm taking my time to think things through - rather than jumping into something, I'm really going to have a strategy. Maybe I can actually get the laundry into the washing machine without going through an entire cycle empty. In ways I think this spinning and spinning with nothing in it is a metaphor for my brain and basically my God-given errrr... talents, but it's frustrating for my loved ones and my feet (which have not recovered).