extreme caution

I’m married to an adrenaline junkie. That adventurous type you read about and see in movies. He really lives life. Story after story of incredible experiences and people, mostly wives, stop to look at me and beg the question “How do you do it?”

Well sometimes, even to my own surprise I can be laid-back. My immediate thoughts, we’re very independent individuals and thank goodness for a man with goals. They change from season to season but nerveless seem to get bigger and scarier. For instance, mountaineering is the current craze in our house and he’s gearing up and training for the Seven Summits. That means Denali as early as next year and after that Everest.

MmmHmm. As in Mt. As in those IMAX movies of people you are equally in awe of, still deciding they are absolutely certifiable. I’m from the Midwest and I just never knew anyone who did that kind of stuff or wanted to and now…it’s my other half.

Of course I’m nervous and we’ve had serious talks about subjects I hope never to experience, at least not in the near future. Naturally we’ve increased the life insurance. In all of this, despite itself, I’m really okay with it. I never want to stand in the way of his dreams or anyone’s for that matter. It’s not in my nature. Anyone that has the courage to pursue and achieve their heart’s desire is a hero for me.

Another point is that he’s surprisingly responsible about all of it. He reads the books endlessly. Has invested in several strenuous training courses, researched the gear, and is taking the necessary precautions and entry level steps. Yes, there are environmental factors that are out of everyone’s control which do make me uneasy but I trust him and his judgment…in this matter.

All this doesn’t mean I don’t get upset when he tells me about the books he reads and the near death and sometimes deadly tales. Otherwise I’m eerily calm about it. In a couple weeks, he sets out to do Mt. Rainer and after that, sometime in January, Cotopaxi in Ecuador all leading up to climbing the highest mountain peaks on each of the Seven Summits. It’s both exciting and nervous times for us and I hope to keep everyone up to date as the quest continues.