Day 782

As we age "gracefully," there are certain choices we have to make. Basically, there are two major categories:

*This might not end well!

*This is worth the risk!

Both are worthy of deep consideration and, often, we choose to avoid possible injury. However, there are enticements that cannot be ignored and will enrich our lives...if we survive!

My middle daughter enjoys adrenaline-rush adventures with her husband. Scuba diving with humpback whales and sharks, paragliding off of mountains, following a wolf pack in Colorado, jumping out of airplanes and a host of other experiences she doesn't want me to know about. I admire them greatly!

When they invited me to go snorkeling with sea turtles, I only thought about it for a brief second before I answered with a resounding YES! What could go wrong?!?

We "scuttled" down a small mountain of sharp rocks in our flippers and then dove into the ocean when we were beyond the jutting boulders. Once in the ocean, it occurred to me that other beings might join us (sharks!), but I swam on. It wasn't long before we were rewarded with a multitude of enormous turtles! Surfacing from a sunken pier, they surrounded us and even touched us with their flippers! It was a 'once in a lifetime' adventure and I was beyond thankful that I had agreed to join them. (I will admit that climbing back up the rocks was a challenge!)

Ranger is at an age where he tries to play with the pups, but is not always successful. Under my watchful eye, he romps until I fear that a broken bone might be in his future. When I 'help him make the choice' to refrain from the fray, he looks at me as if to say:

*Thank you for helping this to end well!

OR

*This game is worth the risk!

Perhaps we are not so different after all!