Bye! Off On An Almost-Adventure


My dad and his brother.
Almost ready for their first adventure.
 My dad was the type of guy who almost did a lot of things.  That guy lived his stories and could even make an adventure out of dialing the wrong number. How he told it, he almost hung up and then decided she sounded nice so really, he almost never dialed the right number for a few months. Yeah. They ended up married. That was Dad.

He taught me that every adventure begins when you almost do what is expected of you but end up doing something brave and crazy instead. He was almost a lot of things, and every story started with a gleam in his eye and the phrase, "I almost did that." Yup. He was almost rich off a goldmine. He was almost a policeman, a priest and a few other so-not-my-dad things. Each one was a funny story that kept us chuckling. But honestly, he was fearless, or rather, he swallowed his fear, because he taught me that fear is always there, the trick is to think about what you almost lost, not about what you're doing. Make sense? It doesn't have to if it works. 

Don't take my word for it. Try it. When you find yourself stuck in a rut, doing what everyone expects of you, just stop and do the opposite. Open the backdoor. Take the path less travelled, the hard route. Marry your wrong number. I mean really. Who does that? 

And so... (eating my own advice) fearlessly, I am going on an almost-adventure. Adventures can be fun and a little scary, but with an almost-adventure, it'll take courage. When I'm ready to turn right, I'll stop myself and go the way I wouldn't normally. I'll try to make him proud and almost do as much as I can. (You follow that? It's okay, took me 35 years to get it.) I've got my poncho packed, my snowsuit, my bathing suit, and a few necessities, and I'm off with no idea what to expect. I won't have access to the Internet for awhile. (I can't imagine the horror and will tell you how traumatized I am when I return to the real world.)

I'll catch up with you all in March! That sounds so far, I'll miss everyone, but I should come back with some interesting almost-stories, no?


Have you ever almost done something expected of you but lived an exciting adventure by not doing it?

11 comments:

Trisha said...

Okay, wow! I can't wait to hear more about your adventures! And your dad sounds like quite the adventurer,for sure!

DUTA said...

Have a terrific almost-adventure!
I'll be looking forward to read about it when you're back safe and sound in March.

Golden Eagle said...

I hope you have the best almost-adventure! :)

Vicki Tremper said...

This can work for our novels, too. When you get into a writing rut, have your characters do something unexpected, unplanned, untested, and see where it leads.

Have fun! Miss ya!

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

A month-long adventure...that's a long time that will go by in a flash. Keep a journal so you'll forget nothing.

Valentina Hepburn said...

I'll miss you, sweetie. Have a wonderful time and write everything down so you can make us jealous when you get back. Love the poncho, by the way. Send pics of your almost-adventure if you can!

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

Wow! Have a wonderful time!

Shallee said...

How awesome! Have a wonderful time!

I almost went on a study abroad to England once...and then I didn't, and went to Africa instead. I love the adventures that come from almost doing something else!

Crack You Whip said...

I love adventures! Had a few and ready for some more. Have fun!

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

Hi, Tanya, I know you're busy, but I've tagged you. Please see my blog if you'd like to join in.

Teresa Cypher said...

:-) It is March-- I am checking in to see if you have adventure stories to share?

I hope that you are well, Tanya! And that your adventure was wonderful :-)