up . . .

If you haven't seen the movie "Up" then you need to get to the theater ASAP! It is the best movie ever. Seriously, you all know my obsession with "The Sound of Music" as being the best all time movie in the world. Nothing has ever come close to being in the same league. Last night, history was made. "Up" made it in the same ranking as "The Sound of Music." No "potty humor," a good message, and characters that you are rooting for = best movie ever. I cried no less than 4 times.

I've decided to use the movie as an inspiration for today's post. There may be some references/spoilers in this entry so if you are irritated with that then you have 2 choices, 1) don't read this entry, or 2) go see the movie and then read this entry. :-)

"UP"

"The Spirit of Adventure"

In our marriage I am more the "Carl" and Matt is more the "Ellie." While I do have Ellie's mouth (hello non-stop conversations with myself) Matt has Ellie's spirit. I remember when Matt lived in Colorado, in a tent, in the woods, mapping the forest, I went to visit him. I didn't even know if he knew what time my flight landed in Denver. I hadn't heard from him in weeks! I got off the plane and I didn't see him. I went to the bathroom to get myself together and figure out what I was supposed to do next. (This was before cell phones and wireless Internet). I came out of the bathroom and I walk past Matt, let's call him Mountain Matt. He was totally jacked (hello? is that my boyfriend with all the muscles?) and had a beard - a long one! I did a double take and wondered, "What has happened to my boyfriend?" He greeted me with a smile and said he couldn't wait to show me everything. I was so excited!

We make the 5 hour drive back to the mountains with me snapping photos left and right and gawking at the sheer wonder of it all. It looked so "loony tune." I half expected to see the road runner poised to drop something Acme on the coyote . Later, Matt took me on the first of many hikes. One hike we took along a river made me realize that he was not going to be just a boyfriend.

I love to hike and I love the outdoors. I'm very clumsy and I always find a way to fall, bang something, or get hurt. I plod along at a snail's pace when there are slippery rocks involved but I won't let it stop me. I love adventure! Matt was so patient and so kind. He let me lead as we scrambled over rocks and splashed in different sections of the river. We got to the cliff and Matt said, "I'm jumping! Are you coming?" I looked at his expectant eyes and said, "Of COURSE!" while inside I was FREAKING out. I hate jumping off cliffs into water. I hate it with every single bone in my body. I have skydived, SCUBA dived, I will do just about anything once but jumping off cliffs into the water is terrifying for me. I climbed up to the top and I looked down. Matt jumped with ease. He was encouraging me to jump.

I know you're predicting something romantic where I jump off the cliff into his arms and he says how proud of me he is. Nah- we're not like that. :-) I totally chickened out and climbed down the rock face again. But what I love is that he still let me lead on the way back.