As promised, I am posting tonight from the Miami Airport on the first day of my Amizade adventure. Once again I feel such an overwhelming urge to tell all my loved ones that I am so beholden to them for their support in helping me prepare mentally and physically for this event.
Likewise, I feel a special kinship to my blogging friends for encouraging me to write and photograph and to those who are interested in Amizade and plan to someday undertake a similar experience.
As I sat clutching my boarding pass this morning in Portland Airport departure lounge and pondering my fate, I spied the above poster on the wall marketing the Port of Portland. At that moment it reminded me one of the greatest reasons for embarking on an adventure, namely the joy of experiencing something new and keeping life fresh.
Almost prophetically, I am sure I was the only person on that Dallas flight who was heading for Brazil this morning. Crazy enough, the picture shows a ship which has just passed under the Astoria-Megler bridge, a site Tapirgal of Astoria Daily Photo has often photographed and blogged about and yesterday, in a tribute to me, showed an actual ship a few minutes upriver from that spot as a symbol of my journey. I am sure there will be other magical moments over the next months, and I do my best to smile at them. Tonight I will be flying all night and be in Rio in the morning. I am staying at the Astoria Cocacabana for a couple of nights, a hotel on the beach chosen intentionally as a joke by my travel agent. Go figure!
This is hysterical! Let me be the first to acknowledge this wonderful post and the entertaining connections. I know we will all be enjoying each post as it comes along. You sure started with a good one :) Have a great time in "Astoria."
ReplyDeleteLOL! Your travel agent obviously has a wacky sense of humor similar to yours. I hope you keep it sharp over the next few months. Somehow, I have the feeling you're gonna really need it!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the synchronicity is noted too. I'm sure I don't need to tell you there's also gonna to be plenty of that.
Serendipedous coincidences. (That was a spelling challenge & I probably didn't get it right.)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful start for your adventure. Astoria will be a bit different at Copacabana, I'd imagine.
I look forward to all your pithy posts! Miss you already. sis
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! How you must feel now! Wishing you the best..what a way to start the new year. Will be following your adventures!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about your travel agent, but I am glad that you are on the way! When I get to Bend I will ski a run for you. Enjoy the moment.
ReplyDeleteWell, Lee, ya sure did it. Now off to the 'Astoria'. too funny but just the thing to put your mind at ease. Keep clicking them pictures. MB
ReplyDeleteRight now I'd guess you're on the beach in Rio, checking out the bikinis or lack thereof...
ReplyDeleteSome guys have all the luck. Kudos to your travel agent.
Best wishes, my friend, as your journey continues and you find yourself engaged in new and exciting adventures!
And no, we don't have to mow the lawn.
With any luck at all, it won't be raining at this Astoria!
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny, as if life.
ReplyDeleteLove you!