Hey, I’ve shat in the woods.

Thought I’d start this entry with that statement, in hopes that it would grab your attention.

This was just one of the many thoughts that raced through my head this morning, as I was parked on the interstate.

(Ironically, right next to the sign that let us know that we were leaving the construction zone, and could resume regular speed.)

I noticed the MSU Spartan Logo on the back window of the Ford Explorer parked next to me, as I came upon it. MI license plate (pretty!), expensive bike on roof rack. Upon closer inspection (Hey, I had time…) I noted two pair of ski’s on roof rack next to expensive bike.

I almost laughed aloud when I got all the way up next to the Explorer, and saw the two guys inside. They were almost comically rugged, wearing plaid flannel shirts and perfectly shaped 5-day growths of beard.

“Look at us, we’re soooooo amazingly rugged and outdoorsy!!!“

It’s early Friday morning; they’re headed north out of Chicago with a bunch of gear on their roof; and have amazingly rugged facial hair. They are obviously starting out on a big adventure.

Or maybe they were just headed to an audition for a Brawny paper towel commercial.

I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and assumed “adventure”.

And I was jealous.

Not of the expensive bike, or the skis (Really? Skis? it’s warm and sunny and winter in this part of the country’s another 2 months away), or the fact that their manly facial hair was dark, whereas mine is alarmingly silver and white when I let it grow out.

It was the adventure part.

The road trip, the getting there (Wherever “There” might be) and the “Christmas morning” feeling when you’re finally at your destination.
The crap unpacked-toes in the sand-line in the water- beer-in-the-hand feeling.

“I’ve been waiting months for this, and here it finally is and it’s just like I hoped…”

My god, but I love that feeling.
And I DO get to experience that feeling on occasion, but not nearly often enough.

I love “The Adventure”.

The planning, the anticipation, the actual adventure…

I’ve watched families of moose slip silently out of dense brush into a N. Minnesota lake.
I’ve caught trout in small farm creeks in upstate NY.
I’ve awoke to find deer foraging right outside my tent.
I’ve slept (or not slept) where bear hang out.
I’ve climbed trees, mountains.
I’ve swam under waterfalls
I’ve gotten up with the sun countless times, fishing pole in one hand, cup of coffee in the other.
I’ve, indeed, shat in the woods.

But this morning I was headed to the office, no perfectly shaped, silver and gray flecked five day growth of whiskers on my cheek, no kayak strapped to my roof, no fishing gear rattling around in the back of my 15 year old Subaru. No cool adventurous wife sitting next to me, playing DJ.
No “I’m so excited!” or “ Are we there?” or “I have to go potty!” from the backseat.

And I thought about the endless potential of “The Adventure”.
Not like I had anything better to do at that moment...

My daughter’s juuuuuust about old enough now, perhaps by next spring we can ramp it up a bit…