Conversation with mister best friend as we drove to our final training hike at Mission Peak:
Me: I'm still scared of Half Dome!
Mister best friend: Liz, you will be fine. You are a kick-ass hiker.
Me: ...........
Mister best friend: ...........
Me: You might have to coach me to the summit. Will you do that?
Mister best friend: ...........
Me: ........... Eric!
Mister best friend: Fine, fine, yes, I will coach you.
Me: You don't sound very happy, Eric. I want you to WANT TO coach me to the top.
Mister best friend: Oh my god!!!!!!!! Why do girls say ridiculous things like that?
Me: You are right. I don't know who I am anymore.
This will be my only post this week. I'm driving to Yosemite and climbing Half Dome on Friday, and I am being a big baby about it—fretting and worrying and talking to myself on the sidewalk and buying lots of life insurance along the way. My co-workers have endured repetitive ruminations on slippery 45 degree angles and well-trodden death granite in our weekly meetings. I have terrified everyone, quite unfairly. Thousands & thousands & thousands of folks have successively summited Half Dome without sliding to their demise.
It will be fine. I will have the best time ever! Epic fun w/o death and dismemberment, hurray!
I will now go back to distracting myself with the new, o-so stellar Dodos album, Time to Die. Umm .....
Fables - The Dodos (stream the entire album here, thx for the tip, fork/knife fellas!)
(graphic by Marc Johns)
Good luck, Liz! Let's get a drink when you return. I want to hear all about your adventure!
Posted by: Alexa | July 14, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Belay on!
Have a great trip. One of my favored climbing locations (in spite of the crowds).
Posted by: Matt Pearce | July 14, 2009 at 03:33 PM
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO - what a ride!"
Have a ball; stop when it's no longer fun. Can't wait to be regaled.
Hugs.
Posted by: Doniece | July 14, 2009 at 08:20 PM
Ooo! Doing that hike in September. Looking forward to hearing what you thought of it.
Really wish I wasn't afraid of heights...
Posted by: Chris | July 14, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Oh, have lots of fun! Good luck!
Posted by: Jill Pilgrim | July 15, 2009 at 09:48 AM
If all of those people (in the pic) can do it, you totally can. Rock it out (*sigh* no pun intended) and enjoy the view for the rest of us:)
Posted by: A. Parker | July 15, 2009 at 05:56 PM
careful with this track. i got in trouble for posting it!
have fun on your trip!
Posted by: Will | July 16, 2009 at 09:54 PM