(picture of Kaitlin and I)Today, Kaitlin, her mom Penny, and I will pile into her Rusty blue Toyota 4 Runner. It is packed so full of stuff that has accumulated over the past 6 years by Kaitlin while she attended school at Gonzaga to make the trek back up to her homeland - Alaska. All of us including many who are not riding in the car, are hoping and praying the 4 Runner will make it up to Alaska. Alaska? Yes, Alaska. Where did Alaska come from some of you may be wondering?
While Alaska has existed for quite some time, it has only been on my ‘absolutely must visit’ list for a few years. When Kaitlin, tore her ACL in a skiing accident and ended up staying with my family while recovering from knee surgery, she suggested I hitch a ride up to Alaska with her and her mom. And I said, “Okay!”
As I prepare for this trip I could not be more excited for the anticipation of what will come on this unexpected and spontaneous adventure. I do not know what to expect, in fact the only things I know about the next 6 weeks: it takes 24 hours to drive to Prince Rupert where our Ferry leaves from on Tuesday. I will be staying with Kaitlin’s family in Soldotna. There is a 25-mile bike loop near their home. They have waders for salmon fishing in the river. Penny does hot yoga. And I have been taking lots of vitamin B to repel the mosquitoes. It all sounds better than awesome to me. I like everything I’ve heard and I love Kaitlin and her mom.
I am so thrilled for this experience and a little hesitant. Generally, when I become really excited about the future, my imagination gears up into overdrive and I become attached an expectation of what I think it will be like. This is cause for trouble, as it tends to lead me down a path of disappointment if the event does not live up to my expectations. This time I have decided to try something new- being nothing but fully present in each moment as it comes. That is what I am most looking forward to and that is exciting in itself. I will keep you updated along the way.
*A little footnote I am pretty sure my parents named me Audra because it was the coolest name that began with ‘A’ and would be the perfect alliteration for ‘Adventure with Audra in Alaska. How is that for the use of the letter A? And my initials are AK… haha, I am done.
