Flying Solo

Adam feeling the freedom with his mule Snickers!

February 18th, Sunday, was 3 months since I was hit by Jesus.  Exactly.  At 7:30 AM, possibly the exact moment of impact, Adam left on a lizard hunt to northern Argentina for 10 days.  He was headed to 15,000 feet of elevation, long distances, mules, and new species!  What a bittersweet moment for our family.  We miss him, but it is also a testament to recovery and a return to normalicy.

Some things have changed.  I am more relaxed.  I stress less, and enjoy life more.  I appreciate Adam more, and his incredible response to my injury, gave me more confidence and appreciation for our relationship.  He did it all and loved me when I was at my ugliest: swollen, bruised, and unreliable.  The beauty in that brought us closer together.

Makeup and Hair FUN!

His travels are a healing message.  I can take care of myself and our children alone.  Wow.  Three months, and I can do this.  It isn't even a question.  We will have popcorn and broccoli, beet sandwiches, and rice cakes and tuna for dinner a few nights, but the kids love that, and so do I.  That is all good!!

As he left and we hugged goodbye, he told me that a month ago he didn't think this would be possible.  A month ago I didn't think I would be able to shave my own armpits, and BLAM!  We are nailing it!  OK - there was a bloody razor incident, but it is all good!  We got this!  I can't wait to see next month's milestones.

SoJo - the negotiator.  That girl loves to work
it and get her deal.

And... well, the kids and I had to celebrate.  When Los Autenticos Decadentes came to town, we did our party hair and make-up with friends, went to the outdoor concert, sprayed ourselves with foam, danced until someone (Caleb) begged to go to bed well past midnight, drank a little beer in the streets, and walked home without feeling the chill.  Another testament to stressing less and enjoying life more.  Bring it on!

Getting crazy with foam.  Give Mom a little beer and empty
her pockets!  Awesome!

A little of the pre-party awesomeness!  Thanks Ale!

The Loud Americans

I humbly apologize to all US citizens.  We are vigorously reinforcing the stereotype of the loud Americans.  I wish it wasn't true, but there is no denying it.  We arrived at the Perito Morano glacier, and we immediately started cheering and shrieking with delight.  We waved our hands in the air and jumped up and down as the glacier calved and boomed and giant pieces of ice crashed into the fridged lake.  Everyone else on the viewing platform stood quietly, observing, taking pictures, and not moving.  We were a scene!  But at the same time, I wondered, why aren't these spectators more excited?

We had an adventure off-roading for 37 kilometers, boating across a lake and hiking to Chile through the Andes.  When we got within view of the border, we all started running and screaming to be the first one in the country.  OK, Adam did not partake in the running and screaming, but the rest of us did.  We were ready to push each other out of the way, so we could be in Chile FIRST.  We made quite the show, standing in both countries at once, kissing over the border, and eating lunch on the line.

The jokes ever ended, and we never got tired of them.  

"Mom, I dragged this log all the way from Chile to sit on.  I am not going to share it." 

"I can't reach the water bottle.  It is in a different country." 

“Where’s Dad?” 

“Oh, he's in Chile.”

It doesn’t matter where we go, the beach, the park, the waffle restaurant; we are loud.  We keep trying to tone it down, but so far, we fail every time.  Our children have accepted that they are loud Americans.  Adam and I have not… usually. 

The Green Helmet

We all made it to Lagos de Tres, and I got to enjoy
a moment without my helmet before the hike down.

Carmela and Sofia admit that my green helmet distresses them.  Isn't it my job as a parent to embarrass my kids whenever possible?  I remember being 8 years old and mortified by my mom's singing as she belted out the hymns in church.  Thank you Jesus for giving me this opportunity to horrify my kids!  Whoot! 

It is a novelty to wear a crash helmet in Argentina when the majority of bike riders, motorcyclists, and climbers keep their heads uncovered and unprotected.  On our treks in the Andes, I was the only person sporting head armor.  I get why people looked at my green beret first before bringing their eyes down to meet mine with a questioning look.  If I wasn't missing part of my skull, I wouldn't be wearing a helmet either, but I am sure glad I had mine.  

The trail one the left side of the hill in front was the last kilometer.
A lesson in switchbacks would be greatly appreciated!

It provided reassurance, especially during our hike to Fitz Roy, the "Half Dome" of Argentina.  The trail is arduous and crowded.  

The first 7 kilometers include 1200 feet of elevation gain, hardly preparing one to encounter the final vertical kilometer with another 1200 feet of elevation.  That last 100 meters felt like it was straight up.  There were places we had to use our hands and scale the rocks.  With one arm assisting Caleb, and the other flailing by my side, wearing the helmet brought piece of mind as we scrambled along.

 The view was spectacular, and I am proud of the kids for pushing on and getting it done. Carmela, our trekking champion arrived 20 minutes before the rest of us and kindly declared, "Yes Mom; your helmet is embarrassing, but I am glad you are wearing it."  Me too Carmela!  

Why are turnstiles so much fun?

Field Trip!

Since the kids are enjoying summer vacation and school doesn’t start until March 6, they spend a few hours every day in pain doing Mom homework.  It is the horror and suffering of being the children of a teacher.  Last week I assigned them all a standards based research writing assignment CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2 on glaciers.  They watched videos, took notes, and prepared and wrote essays on glaciers. 

In the National Geographic videos, we learned about the Perito Moreno glacier.  It is the third largest glacier in the world, the largest glacier in South America, and the only glacier still growing in size.  Amazingly, it is located in our backyard.  We have a really big back yard.  It takes 2 days to drive from end to end.  I’m sure it could be done faster but our Chevy Manerva and three kids occasionally need to use the restroom. 

The videos and research reports prompted us to take this far and freezing field trip.  It has been an incredible experience to travel across the desolate lands of Patagonia.  The expanse is rugged with a paucity of humans yet bursting with wildlife. 

The glacier was incredible, beautiful, enormous and cold.  SoJo wanted to walk on Perito Moreno so badly, but you have to be at least ten year old to trek, and she was sorely disappointed.  THEN we found a drink in the restaurant that brought joy to the whole family – whiskey on glacier ice!  I had to take one for the team, and I ordered it – with an extra side of ice.  We were all excited to be eating the glacier, and SoJo’s blues quickly turned around. 

When we finished eating the glacier,  we walked down to Lake Argentina and picked up floating pieces of Perito Moreno ice, licked them, stomped on them, and threw them back in the water.  As we stomped, SoJo proudly announced, “I am walking on the glacier now!”  You go Girl!  Stomp your heart out!