Day 27: Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die…

“There cannot be good living where there is no good drinking.”
-Benjamin Franklin

The day started off well, I thought….  A good alter-G run with several good thoughts that carried me the 8 mile distance and then a planned open water swim at Donner Lake…  “Planned”, being the operative word.  When I arrived at Donner Lake, the walk to the beach was initially quiet and then halfway down the path through the forest, I could hear loud waves crashing against the shore!  I stopped dead in my tracks. I had checked the weather forecast before I left for the hour drive and there was no mention of wind or waves.  I took a deep breath and continued to the lake, hoping that there was some other explanation for what I was hearing.

Alas, I arrived at the beach and tossed my bags on the picnic table, sat down and sighed heavily…  I was hoping for this swim to be a bit of redemption from yesterday’s failed attempt. It appeared that the powers that be were conspiring against me!  I felt powerless…  I sat on the bench, placed my bag behind my head and closed my eyes.  I laid there listening ever so intently to every wave that hit the shore.  I felt the sun on my face as the breeze felt cold on my arms.  I made the executive decision to take 10 min and think about life, my direction, the challenges that lay ahead and what this all means.  At one point I opened my eyes, hoping to find someone standing in front of me with a list of answers to my questions… Yeah, surprise, no one there!  I felt a little sad that I had made the hour long drive for the swim, but at the same time, the past many days have been so busy that I have not had the time to listen to myself think and breathe.  Then I thought, perhaps this is what I was supposed to do.. just be!  With that I decided to stay just a tad longer and take in the view of the choppy lake and just be thankful that I wasn’t halfway into my swim when the chop began.  Yes, I need to feel grateful for allowing myself the time to breathe and be!

As I made my way back, I was thinking about the upcoming Quest.  I have to say, I smiled big because at this point it was exactly what l needed to melt the stresses of the day away…  The Quest takes me to Whole Foods tap room!  Ahhhh… an alcoholic beverage of the slushy kind!  I have never had an alcoholic slushy beverage and no better day to indulge than the present.  I arrived at Whole Foods and right there at the door was a sign advertising the tap room and their hours of operation-it seemed as if the Quest was greeting me before I even walked through the door!  As I made my way through the store, it was hard to remain focused and not do a bit of shopping as the produce was neatly stacked and looked as if it had just been picked.

I resisted the produce temptation and bee lined for the “Tap Room”.  Ordered were two drinks, an apricot shandy and a sangria slushy.  When they arrived at my table, I felt my worries fly away as if they were no longer welcome.  The beer was a blonde color, thick and cold with a red and white spiraled straw.  I raised the glass and the aroma was one of apricots and beer.  I slowly brought the straw to my lips and gently but intently sipped up the nectar of the Gods and I thought I was experiencing Nirvana!  The icy cold sweet treat was the perfect indulgence on a hot day in Reno.  An involuntary smile emerged and I couldn’t wait for the next sip!  This definitely is going to be placed on the “must do this again” list!  But, there was still the sangria slushy.  The sangria slushy was a deep purple in thick ice with a spiraled straw.  I wondered if it could even compare as I brought the straw to my lips.  I anxiously and slowly sipped the sangria slushy and realized when I was done that I must have been glowing from the delight… It was an indulgence to be honored!  The sangria was delicate and fruity and the icy addition made it irresistible!  My first thought was, “Where have you been all my life?”!  I had never intended to drink both slushies in their entirety, but was responsible enough to drink a little and leave the rest.

    

I had forgotten all about the day and the challenges it presented.   I delighted in a cold beverage of the slushy kind, and cannot find a reason not to smile… can it get better than that?  Wondering what tomorrow will bring!