The Thrill

Saturday was a momentous day for me-I participated in my first-ever half marathon. I finished in 2 hours and 25 minutes, a very average time for my age group. I'm still a little awestruck. A week ago I was still reeling from three weeks' of serious illness. And I...just...ran...13..miles. There were moments when I thought I might not make it, and there were plenty of times when I had to slow to a walk, but I kept on going. I suppose that declaration sums up my life thus far pretty nicely. I kept on going. 

Plans have been made for my winter vacation, which I will spend in Argentina, and it's just another way that I've proved myself to myself. A love of adventure flows pretty freely through my veins. I'm not one to shy away from a challenge. I'm also not one to lose myself in the planning process, I'll admit. I tend to leap and ask questions later (I'd never actually ran a race prior to the half marathon). I've found the flights I'll take and drawn a rough outline of where I'd like to be when (I plan to spend most of my time in Patagonia and it's a big place to traverse in 2 weeks), but I'm going to leave the rest to the fates.

The idea of celebrating New Year's Eve in Buenos Aires thrills me to no end, though. It is one of those things I'm planning, although not in any serious way. Not yet. I'll celebrate in an exotic locale and do my best to mingle with some of the locals, and try out my Spanish at every opportunity, but I don't know where I'll be specifically, and I think a part of me doesn't want to know. Isn't that part of the intrigue? I like to leave a question or two floating about. Will there be tango? Will I find a nice rooftop celebration to partake in? What will I drink? Will I find myself in the midst of a huge crowd? What will I eat? Will I have the pleasure of a midnight kiss? What hopes will I have for 2017?

I smile when I think of it. All of it. The time away. The adventure. The scenery. The character of the place. I am optimistic, excited, my muscles tensing in anticipation, like a runnner at the starting line. I've trained for this in some sense, but the nuances of the event remain a mystery. I think I'm ready, but I'm not. Of course I'm not. But if there's one tool in my arsenal that's served me most through the years, it's my adaptability.  I am still filled with the thrill of the hunt. I hope I always am.