Last night I couldn't sleep. Sure the cold I'm nursing played a part in it, but there were certainly other things running through my head besides all the snot. I finally fell asleep just after the sun rose around 7:00am. Peace came to me when I resolved that I had realized some profound truth about my life. Of course, as soon as I woke up I couldn't recall a bit of it and quickly set about making some tea.
New Year's Eve usually is a melancholy night for me. I'm not fond of the passage of time . I don't enjoy feeling like I have less of it than I started off with, and the New Year is just a reminder of this. However, I'm not feeling particularly down this year. Maybe its because at this time last year I was demoralized about a badly injured finger and contemplating its potential effects on an up coming trip to Hueco, and now I'm not. Or maybe because last year I was still a bit heart broken and lonely, and now I'm not. Regardless, on this New Year's Eve I'm actually quite optimistic.
In a matter of days I'll be leaving for Hueco Tanks in west Texas. This will be my second trip to the bouldering mecca and my first without any injury induced limitations. This time I'm staying longer too. Following that, I have a brief trip (about a week) with Kevin to visit Robyn in Atlanta, and to boulder in the surrounding area. After the trip to the south I have a little bit of unplanned time. I'd like to get back to 'Dogwood' in Yosemite, if the weather allows, and I'd like to do a short trip to Vegas. I'll probably end up going to Bishop some, and I'll be headed to Arizona for spring training with my Dad and my sister, Brooke. In April I plan on going back to work in Yosemite for around two months and then its off to the Rocklands of South Africa! I've been dreaming about this trip for a few years now and I'm ready to see it into fruition. After what will hopefully be a three month stay in SA, I'll return to the States with the intention of going back to work in Yosemite for the Autumn season. This is a little up in the air now and its not entirely in my hands. Who knows what happens after that? Kalymnos maybe...a little sport climbing...John, Shannon, I love you...
Anyway, I feel extremely blessed right now. I have a lifestyle that I've dreamed about having since I started climbing, I've got an amazing community of like-minded friends and family, and I have my health.
Thank you everyone, you've all contributed to 2008 being a wonderful year for me. I hope 2009 brings just as much joy to each of you and I look forward to our sharing in more wonderful adventures.
-Justin
5 comments:
Wow - what a post & that's meant in the most complimentary way possible. There are some amazing opportunities in your future & I can only hope to celebrate the success of them with you. Here's to 2009 and a new season of hope & change.
Love you_mama
i will break the comforting, happy feeling of that post with JEALOUS RAGE!!!!!
best wishes to you in 09
--j [for 'jealous', again]
I have to admit that there is something to be said about living this Urban-ish lifestyle...as I was typing, this thought just turned into a broader narrative - anyhow, I'm sure you'll sense the city love going your way while you're enjoying time outside..the envy as well ;)
Can't wait to see you!
"New Year's Eve usually is a melancholy night for me. I'm not fond of the passage of time . I don't enjoy feeling like I have less of it than I started off with, and the New Year is just a reminder of this."
That is a very interesting bit.
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