In the nearly 20 years that I have known my wife, we have been on some great adventures. That willingness to say “yes” is one of her best qualities. “Hey sweetheart, should we wander down this sketchy path to the beach?” “Sure, why not?”
That ability to choose “yes” instead of “no” has led to a few bad choices, but also an overwhelming number of great times. Together, we’ve watched horses race on an open beach in Ireland. We’ve dove off uncomfortably high cliffs into Lake Superior and the waters of Tulum, Mexico, and we’ve zip-lined through the desert air in Nevada. They are great memories and great adventures because of her willing to say, “let’s do this.”
The pandemic and subsequent shutdowns of all kinds of fun have cramped our style more than a bit in the past year plus. I’ve got a feeling it’s also done the same for you. However, my wife’s ability to say “yes” once again is a sign to me that a return to good times just might be upon us.
This latest “yes”, however, was a little different than the ones I listed above. Mainly due to the fact that I had nothing to do with it. In fact, I never left my zip code, but she did.
For four great days, my wife and four friends lived it up with an outdoor adventure in the Colorado mountains. There were bike rides, hikes, and horseback rides. I also saw some great pictures that included hot tubs, and more than a few beverages enjoyed by all. It looked awesome, and parts of me were a smidge jealous. However, I’m glad she did this one without me. She needed it, and it shows.
The last year has plunged many of us into a sort of hole. We’ve hunkered down and had been forced to adjust to a new way of life. School, work, shopping, socializing all changed in a split second. I heard from some people who claimed they liked it. No more rush hour traffic or passive aggressive comments from that jerk in their office. Many others thrived by reinventing themselves into something new. I however, have hated nearly every minute. I’m an outdoor and around-people type of guy. I get energized by being around others and meeting new people whenever I can. I already know all my stories. I want to know some of yours, especially if we’ve never met. The pandemic obliterated nearly all of that. I want it back, and I’m not the only one.
Getting back to a life we enjoy is going to take everyone a little of bit of time. If you’re already there, congrats. I’m not. After 16+months, my wife’s not quite there either. In that time, she has masterfully navigated our kids transition to online school, come up with clever new means of entertainment, and dealt with a brooding husband that keeps bumping into her at the coffee machine. She needed a reboot.
When she arrived in the driveway Sunday afternoon there was a spring in her step and smile across her face that was more radiant than what I’ve seen in a while. The kids gave her big hugs after receiving new t-shirts and the dogs freaked out like only a pair of goldendoodles can. I sat back and observed a bit, then we sat on our deck as she gave me the recap of her adventures. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her tell the stories with giggles and grins. It was great. Thank you, Colorado, for being there for my wife. I hope to see you or another adventure spot soon and who knows, maybe she'll be by my side.
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