Adventure #1: Washington Park Arboretum

I've been sitting on this for a while now-- trying to find something big and glamorous to be my first adventure, but part of this journey is recognizing the adventures that are presented to us in our everyday lives. Today's adventure was fueled by Mother's Day, and some glorious PNW sunshine.

My mom has always encouraged me to try new things with one exception-- jumping off a bridge. Everyone's mother has definitely uttered the words "if your friends all jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?" at one point or another. I'm pretty sure it's in the handbook of motherhood that gets sent home from the hospital in the swaddling blanket with the baby. Early one summer, I had a friend celebrating a birthday at a local theme park, and expressed some hesitation about riding the new coaster that went upside down. Mom simply said sometimes you have to take advantage of opportunities that are presented to you because you never know if you'll have the chance to do it again. Later that summer, we were on a week-long rafting trip in Idaho when our guides pulled the boats over and said if we wanted to jump off the 30-foot-high trestle that spanned the width of the river, now was the chance. It turns out, if my friends are jumping off a bridge, I totally will too. Mom looked at me like I was crazy, and started to say something about it not being such a good idea, when I looked her right in the eyes and said "sometimes you have to take advantage of opportunities, because you never know when you'll have the chance to do them again". While I don't think she saw the similarities between a highly tested and regulated roller coaster that involved a variety of safety mechanisms, and her 11 year old daughter jumping off a bridge in the middle of the Idaho wilderness, she couldn't deny my logic.

So while today's adventure presented far fewer safety concerns, it was nonetheless a new experience for both of us. Washington Park Arboretum fills 230 acres of land with both manicured gardens, paved and graveled pathways for pedestrians and bikes, and shady grottos (that all seemed perfect for napping). Neither of us had been, and given my mom's love of gardens--especially ones that she doesn't have to weed-- it seemed like a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Parking in the park could almost have been considered an adventure in its own right, but all of the stress and anger faded away as we wandered in through shady pines, spiky grasses, and some of the tallest rhododendrons I've ever seen. There are parts of the park that feature specific types of plants (azaleas, Japanese maples, magnolias) and other parts where you can just ramble through taking in a glorious greenspace amid the hustle and bustle of the city. While we had enjoyed a delicious Tom Douglas lunch at Serious Pie and Biscuit beforehand, I wish that I had known this place is picnic perfection. I definitely would have enjoyed some cheese and crackers on a blanket in the shade.

I guess that's the joy of adventures though-- you never know what you're jumping into, but you always learn something by the end of it. I also know that whatever my adventure is, my mom will always be cheering me on. I look forward to spending more afternoons in the park, and would LOVE to revisit it in the fall when the oaks will be glowing orange and gold.

Not totally settled on my next adventure (likely a hike) but I guess we'll jump off that bridge when we come to it.