Carpe-ing the Diem

I recently happened upon a group of guys encircling a gaggle of girls– all clearly college kids. The menfolk were attempting to persuade the reluctant gals to join them on an impromptu sledding adventure in the fresh powdery snow.

I couldn’t help but be disappointed to hear the girls launch a myriad of excuses, declining the invite. “If I stay in and watch a movie I’ll be warm…,” they hemmed and hawed.

Husband’s maternal grandparents famously met in a spontaneous snowball fight on Portland’s Lewis & Clark College campus in the 1950’s. Grandpapa fondly retells how of the entire girl’s dormitory hall, only two girls braved the snowy cold (and testosterone) that day– his late wife being one of them. She was up for an adventure and inadvertently met the love of her life, and I am just one of many direct beneficiaries to the blessings that came from her bold move that day.

Husband and I fancy ourselves adventurers. Amateur adventurers. I guess he inherited the quality, while I married into it. Exploration, travel and learning/experiencing new things are some of our favorite pastimes, as well as recognizing the beauty in the every-day. I pray we are passing this along to our children, and like to hope it honor’s Mimi’s memory– to be adventurous, spontaneous, forever ready to joyfully carpe the diem, at moment’s notice.