Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Climbing with Exhibit A

So, I arrived Saturday just in time for dinner - having used many many forms of transportation. We had a nice dinner - me being punch drunk tired. Went back to his place, went to sleep, got up, and drove off climbing to a place that apparently not many people go to since there's a pretty hard hike up. It was a gorgeous Sunday and noone else was there. This is a view from the place we climbed. It's sport climbing, and gorgeous rock. Luther's Rock or Spire or something, by South Lake Tahoe.

On Monday he had jury duty, so we left after he finished- like 4:00. And went to Lover's Leap and did the first pitch of The Line. A climb that was rated in the top ten of some famous person's list of all time. Or at least the first pitch. I only did it because Exhibit A said he had gear we could leave behind. The climb is 3 pitches and we didn't have time for that! And it's also rated a 5.9, which I was nervous about.

Here's a picture of the climb and me on it. Damn him for photographing when he should have been belaying! Not really. I'm sure I was safe.


We didn't have to leave gear because there were bolts about 10 feet over to the right at the top of a sport climb. We were sitting there setting up the rappel and someone on the ground asked if we were ok, which I thought was very nice. It's very possible for people to get stuck on the rock. But we had two ropes and were ok. We didn't come down off the climb until it was almost dark. Pooped was I!

I'll just say again that I had a great time with him. His birthday is Sat and mine's tomorrow - two Leos would make for an interesting relationship! We had some emails back and forth since I left and he's pretty clear that long distance is not for him (quote: I hate long distance relationships) Given that I'm thinking about my life and I tend to always need/want a man in my life, I'm obsessing about him - or was at least today. I found a job that I'm going to apply for in Berkeley, which would be nice because I could envision a life there, even if he wasn't in it! But of course I freak out at the idea of moving, but maybe I need a change in my life. I don't know. It won't hurt to apply. And if I try to picture what the future will look like, it's always different than what I imagined. So, best not to fret.

I read a book: While I was Gone - Sue Miller. A quote reached out to me: We didn't know what would happen next: that was our great gift. The gift of youth. The thing we miss, it seems to me, no matter what we've made of our lives as we get older. When we do know what will happen next. And next and next and then last.

Now, that's not me and that's not my life. That was the character and her fear of same-ness. There's a little bit of that in me though. I want to not know what happens next. I want to be in positions that I don't know what will happen. You can argue that that is life all the time, but sometimes you have a better knowledge of that given your life than other times.

We'll see what happens in my 43rd year.

18 comments:

laura b. said...

Whoa, that climb looks insane! I'm so glad to get to experience rock climbing through you.

Sometimes a change is really needed, no matter what the reason...and it certainly doesn't hurt to consider it. I think Berkeley would be a nice place to live.

Sue Miller is one of my favorite authors, by the way :-)

And it is a bit early PST, but it is almost your birthday...so Happy Birthday, NoRegrets!!!

laura b. said...

ps - Tara says, TAG!

EsLocura said...

change is both exhilarating and scary but sometimes we need both of those. Just make a move for you and only with you in mind, the rest falls into place if it needs to.

EsLocura said...

Happy birthday! Hope it's a wonderful stress free day! besos

crazy4coens said...

moving is hard - but do-able and an excellent way to have a fresh start. Happy Birthday!

Susan said...

Happy birthday!!!!!!

Is it called lovers leap because lovers would go kill themselves there? :(

Ananda girl said...

What a marvelous adventure! I would love to live in Berkeley. But I get the dread of leaving behind the known. But I also am a fan of change and the experiences it brings.

Ananda girl said...

Oh yes! Happy Birthday!

Pamela said...

Laura, it looks worse that it was. It freaked me out when I first saw it. Yeah, I am considering change... And I know Goodreads request is out there... gotta get to it.

Oh, crap, forgot about tag.

Es, yeah, I know. Only me in mind. Trying to do that. Going with my flow.

Thanks for the b-day wishes!

Susan, I'm not sure. I asked Exhibit A but he didn't know. I had one comment on facebook that was hilarious though: Is this lover's leap...or uncoordinated peson with weak arms might as well leap?

Pamela said...

Thanks Ananda girl!

Tara said...

Happy Birthday, NoRegrets! I finally baked you a virtual cake! :)

I hope you're enjoying the day so far!

Mel said...

Happy happy Birthday to you!

You and the meteor shower--I'm sure it was a gift just for you! Thank you for sharing it with me.

And O M G.....that is NOT a 'hill' I could fathom scaling up. Nope. No way!

Stray Cat said...

Another year
Enlightenment is near
As you shift into gear
Don't forget to steer
Happy Birthday, my dear!

Pamela said...

Tara, Mel, and Stray Cat, thanks to all of you. (my very own poem... yay!)

Sebastien Millon said...

That picture makes me sick to my stomach, looks dangerous, haha! I'm totally becoming like my mother...

Happy birthday!

3GKnight said...

Happy Birthday!

And I'm so jealous. A lot of people think the Rockies are the best, but I'm totally a Sierra Nevada's fan. Grew up in the Central Valley and being an hour away from the big trees was awesome.

Churlita said...

Happy Birthday! My 43rd year was pretty damn fun. I hope yours is too.

Pamela said...

Sebastien, we all become our mothers eventually. Or fathers.

3GK - thanks! I'll take any mountains actually.

Thanks Churlita. We'll see...