Roadtrip
May 05, 2024 4:55 pm
I wonder about myself sometimes.
I decided to drive to Washington State from Atlanta Georgia. I'm wondering about my sanity. But I've made it about half way through, I'm in Missouri at the moment. I've realized that camping when you have to tear down and set up each night is overly exhausting. So I'm hitting hotels when I'm only here for a night, which is sending my inner accountant into fits. I also don't have as much time to explore as I thought I would as there is a time limit. I have ConCarolinas on May 30th, so I need to be home before then so I have time to do laundry.
And I'm not writing enough, but I am thinking and trying to flesh out the worlds. I hope you will enjoy the results. But it is still a while until then. But I had forgotten how pretty this world is, the greens, hills, rivers. I'm glad I'm driving through.
So for now I'm driving through and seeing the US from my colorful truck.
Book Recommendations!
Being a healer is wonderful, you get to save people. But when you can't save someone you love, something in you breaks. Pure Power.
Time travel is never simple. If you think it is, you're wrong. Taste the complexity of messing with what was and what might be in Time Travel.
Weekly Micro Story
Splash
I let the employee push me into the river, ignoring the screaming warnings in my mind. I could do this. I had gone kayaking before.
In your twenties.
The thought disappeared as I wobbled.
Balance, balance.
The urging helped me straighten out. It would take me a bit to get into the flow, but I could do this. My bag with my phone and car keys lay in between my legs as I tried to use the paddle without jostling my balance. The partially cloudy sky with sun was gorgeous and the kayak rental person had gushed. "They have all seven gates open because of the rain. So it is high and fast. You'll have a blast."
I can do this.
Deep breaths as I drifted down the river. It was fast enough I let the current pull me as I tried to remember how to paddle without tilting.
No hurry, slow and get into the rhythm.
I saw the branch up ahead, but the current was pushing me toward it. Using the paddle I tried to push away from it, but that much pressure tilted me. I stopped and tried to think, but the current gave me no time. Then the kayak was going over the submerged branch, riding up, tilting, and splash. I was in the water.
I struggled to get to the surface and crested to see the kayak sailing by. I started to swim after it, I'd worn a life jacket. I wasn't an idiot, but I couldn't move. It took me a second but I realized the branch had trapped me. I broke free, swimming toward the kayak. My bag. The bag with my car keys and phone. They were in a sealed plastic bag, again not an idiot, but I didn't see it. I got to the kayak and flipped it over. The bag, a beach bag I love for all that I disliked the beach, had floated up and was trapped under the kayak. I threw it into the kayak and tried to reach the paddle but it was moving faster than we were.
I looked around. The river was cold, like forty degrees and I'd flipped in the first ten minutes of my trip. The departure point, where they would pick me up, was a long way down river, miles. There was no way for me to get back in the kayak. Partially rusty, out of shape, and yeah, it wasn't possible. I needed help.
The river was active that day and I spied a pontoon boat with fishermen in it, and I yelled. "Hey!" Then waved when they saw me. I had to hope they would help as otherwise, well, this was going to be unpleasant. But few people will leave someone stranded in the middle of the river, not ten minutes later I was up in the boat and they were more than willing to get me to the dock, so I could call to be picked up. I enjoyed the boat ride, after all that was why I had gone kayaking. But soaking wet and embarrassed hadn't been my plan.
I learned a few things. A - I don't panic. I just do what needs to be done. B - I'm not twenty-one anymore and maybe I need to be a bit more realistic. C - there are good people everywhere. D - I'm not dead and I am going to live my life.
~*~
So - not really a story. I was kayaking yesterday and let's say I need to remember I'm old, haven't done stuff like this in a while. I was never scared just list oriented even as I realized I was in trouble. Lol - 18 year old Mel was fearless. I'm not eighteen anymore. And seriously Ethnotek bags - omg I owe them my phone and truck keys. That beach bag was water resistant and floated. Thank the stars.
Mel
Schedule 2024:
ConCarolinas - May 31-June 2 Charlotte, NC
LibertyCon - June 21-23 Chattanooga, TN
DragonCon - Aug 29 - Sept 2 Atlanta, GA
Deep South Con - Oct 11-13th, Helen, GA
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