Julia Barrett's World

Like most days, today…or yesterday…was a mix of good and bad. I had fun over at author Stacey Espino’s place and I was humbled by Katalina Leon’s praise for Captured - still want to hear that para sailing story again. A close cousin who lives in the Midwest showed up for one night and we laughed into the wee hours of the morning, just like when we were kids - and I was feeling pretty okay today. Then the vet’s office called and said they had Louie’s ashes for me to pick up and I lost it all over again. I’m still not dealing with my grief very well.

Yeah, got the tattoo on my right wrist - LOUIE - in very cool letters and I’ll post a pic up here soon. Chopped off my long hair today. Just didn’t want to deal with it anymore. I planned to go chin length, but Deanna, my stylist, accidentally whacked off a big chunk with the razor so I said, shit…just cut it off. My hair is now about, oh, I don’t know, maybe an inch and a half long. It’s okay, no biggie. I can just style it with my fingers and I’m done. I canceled a coffee date with my plastic surgery addicted friend because I just couldn’t face her critical eye…you know - wow, you look tired…or you trying to lose weight?…or…you cut your hair??? Or…my doctor could do something with those bags under your eyes…or the old…you need to detox…maybe a colonic.

Never!

So my cousin and I were reminiscing about the time we all, by we all I mean my cousin, her friend, Murray, my two sisters and I rafted down the Colorado River and deliberately jumped into a class III rapids sans raft. We hiked upriver with our guide and he said, “Okay now, climb out to the edge of this big rock and jump in. Swim to to middle of the current as fast as you can and point your feet downriver so if you hit an underwater rock or snag, your feet will hit it instead of your head. When you reach flat water, swim like hell to the right side. Somebody will pull you out. Oh, and remember to breathe between waves.”

My loony sister, of course, only heard, “Okay now…” before she leaped off the rock and disappeared into the churning white water. My other sister and I jumped in together, swam as hard as we could to the middle of the river and then tried to survive for the next four or five harrowing, adrenaline filled, ice water minutes, both terrified and exhilarated. We reached flat water and managed to make it to a rock near the shore, where we clung, along with Murray, for dear life, exhausted and unable to pull ourselves to safety. My cousin floated by and in a weak voice, cried…”Help me…” She vanished around the bend. My other sister was no where to be seen. The second rafting guide headed downriver to pick up my cousin. My loony sister, of course, nearly drowned before they found her. Those were the days! Really, sounds bad I know, but it wasn’t. The experience was great, one of the highlights of my life. That’s the nice thing about families, shared adventures. One day my kids will get together and talk about all the crazy insane wonderful things that happened on our camping trips, our backpacking trips, our nutty ski trips.

It’s kind of the way I feel right now…holding on for dear life, exhausted, but eventually I’ll have amazing memories to look back on.

So…stepping forward…I’m entering two of my new paranormal works in a contest. Wish me luck!

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Tags: family adventures, good days and bad days, my dog Louie, tattoos   Posted Contests, Slightly Off Topic, book bloggers, book reviews, nature, science fiction, writing |