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July 05, 2005
Anne's Excellent Adventure
I have not run yet today, but since I am caught at my computer, I feel like writing something down and posting it. I have written a few times about my twin sister, Anne, and I feel especially inclined to write about her before she sets sail on her travels around the world.
Anne is traveling to Africa on Thursday. I admire her bravery and independence, but I also worry. After all, she is genetically linked to me - literally my other half! She has spent the past 3 years working long and monotnous hours as a public accountant - which is a suffocating job for someone who functions best when her spirit and life are completely free and uninhibited. She has decided to leave that world behind and search for a new world of adventure, humaitarianism, and perhaps even writing. I wouldn't be surprised to find her travel journals on a book shelf some time in the near future.
Her voyage starts with a trek up Kilimanjaro. I probably spelled that incorrectly. She recently returned from climbing 14,000 feet in Colorado. Kilimanjaro is 22,000 feet. She is meeting a friend in the Netherlands to climb, but then she is on her own. She will be in Africa for 6 weeks. Her second stop takes her to Cape Town for 10 days, and her final stop takes her to Victoria Falls. I am worried about her possible boundry crossing into Zimbabwe given the recent violence and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. She has promised me that she will cancel her Zimbabwe trip if the political situation heats up even more. I think she will get a better feel once she is there.
It's really strange how our lives have crossed each other. I was a step away from leaving for the Peace Corp after college, but had a history of illness so could not go. I always thought I would end up as the lonely and single - but completely peaceful and happy - world traveler. I always envisioned myself working for the UN (before I realized it was a politically corrupt organization) or some humanitarian group or NGO and living in a third world country. It is awfully hard to realize those dreams now since my fiance is stationed in Chicago for at least the next 10 years. *sigh* I like Chicago, but I have never loved it. I guess - to sum up - I feel a little lost myself. I am not sure what I want to do with my life, but I am not one for falling into complacency and routines. Maybe that is why the artistic life appeals to me . . . it is unpredictable and unscheduled. It is full of rejection and accomplishment. But in order to get there I have to take a leap of faith that I am terrified to take.
In the meantime, I will continue working on my MA in English and working at the running store.
I am really going to miss my sister. I wish I could trek the world with her and share that experience directly instead of vicariously. I am sure I will keep everyone posted of her adventures - I will copy and paste pieces of her emails into my blog. I think we can all learn a little something from her spirit and curious soul.
Posted by bridget at July 5, 2005 05:30 PM
Comments
How awesome that your sister is taking this opportunity to travel. A lot of the things you say remind me of myself. I think sometimes taking a leap of faith also involves waiting for things to feel right.
Hope your sister has a wonderful time. I am so jelaous! Keep us posted on her adventures!
Posted by: Nanda at July 5, 2005 09:59 PM
Wow, that is cool. I hope your sister has a wonderful and safe journey. And yes, keep us posted, it sounds really interesting.
Posted by: Dawn at July 7, 2005 09:26 PM