Its been a minute. Starting to look like this is my "monthly" post.
Since I last wrote things have been eventful in life. I went to Seneca Rocks, WV and went rock climbing - multi-pitch, trad climbing for those out there that are in the know.
It was amazing and terrifying. Words can't really describe it. After we climbed it I was told that east of the Rockies its one of the most famous places to climb because of how sheer it is and the fact it can turn even seasoned climbers to mush.
Anyhow my buddy and I swam in the local river, jumped off rocks into the waters, camped out and climbed. It was awesome.
When I got back I bought a hammock tent and I've stayed out in the woods three nights since. One night I kayaked down a local river at 8pm until it was completely dark and then I pulled up into a random nature reserve to stay the night and finished my run the next morning. Another day I drove to Grayson Lake in KY to explore "Grotto Falls" which was incredible and stayed the night in the hammock. Really some awesome experiences.
And then last week I flew down to Chile to do snowboarding for a week with another friend of mine.
When I got back I wrote in my journal that this has been one wild and blessed year. After I wrote that line I realized that my divorce was final in February and I sat and though about the dichotomy of my feelings of blessings on the year when it also represents the year I got divorced - just interesting.
Last night I went to my daughters volleyball game and my ex sat next to me. I felt unsettled and oddly repulsion. She shared with me that she got into a big argument with one of her "friends", a friend that had supported the divorce funny enough - so I guess they are no longer friends. She also complained about the fact that she has been buying my son a lot of clothes and she doesn't feel as though I'm holding up my end by buying him clothes - I didn't dive into that one, but I was really tempted to bring up the $3300 per month I give her in support, $2k of which is child support - but whatever.
Hearing her talk about non-sense, complain about different things, and talk about her former friend made me wonder for the first time how I dealt with her for 15 years. Such a turnabout.
I still do miss being a family. And I do miss having a partner, but suddenly I am living an adventure. And I have freedom to explore the world as well as my own soul. Time to read and write and think and pray.
The kids are doing well. Some days I do get a little tired and wonder if I can keep doing it all myself - making the dinners, doing all the shopping, taking care of the house; but I am so freaking blessed that I feel guilty.
At the moment I'm laying out my snowboarding trips for 2023. Squaw Valley, Big Sky, Jackson Hole, Snow Basin and some other Utah resorts. I feel like I don't have the time to do all the incredible living I want to do. Its a blistering, mindblowing turn of events - living a life I never dreamed and never wanted. I'm finding and making my peace in it, or better yet taking advantage of it.
