SLACKER. slacking on photos, [kermit the (cristina will be the only who gets this)] blogging, facebook-ing, tumblr-ing, e-mailing…I know, I know, I know. BUT today I felt absolutely COMPELLED to update on my wonderful experience in no other than RONDA, ESPANA.
My tiny Guatemalteca of a roommate/Spain-life-partner, Andrea, left me last night for her other love (;]) in Galicia, so I decided it was time to GROW UP and do a day trip ALL BY MAHH MYSEEELF (meant to be sung) to the quaint, romantic, roman town that is Ronda. And let me tell you…well, as Lourdes- one of the awesome teachers that I work with- would put it, “Uuuuuuuuuuuufff!”
WHAT A PLACE.
Dying to go on a hike, I decided I would do whatever it took to hike down to the bottom of the “Puerto Nuevo” waterfall. MY NEW MISSION. I took a few paths and decided to go off-road a little bit, but I was hesitant because if I got lost who in the world would ever find me?! I, then, ran into a family who was considering taking a rocky, windy, dark, muddy road. ADVENTURE!! As the Spanish/French (they were speaking both) family and I silently debated on taking the path, a man came up from it and said, “I don’t this this is the correct way.” We disregarded his advice/obvious sign of NOT GOING DOWN THIS PATH.
Long story short, the unpromising-looking path lead us to an abandoned house, more mudd, a few tears in my tights, 6-inch wide piece of wood that I think was a “bridge”, and ultimately…nowhere. Bummed/defeated, I was nevertheless glad I went with this family, but we had to make our journey back up the mountain, and we were all pretty tired.
As we made our way back to civilization, I found another semi-off-road path. A little brighter, still relatively muddy, with fewer but DEFINITELY much bigger rocks. Nervously I say to the papa, “Bueno, a ver donde me lleva esta ruta…” They were exhausted, so I was all on my own. Like I said, these rocks were MUCH BIGGER, but I was DETERMINED. My shoes were still slippery and muddy along with the path, so the thought of, “Shooooot, please don’t let me fall on my camera/head!” kept creeping up on me. So as retaliation to myself, I sang the beginning of Lauryn Hill’s “I Gotta Find Piece of Mind” to help me keep going. (Listen to it, I’m going to play it one day. Oh, and did I mention I’m freakin’ taking FLAMENCO GUITAR CLASSES?! Ayyyyy)
Then, fiiiinally, I reach the FALL OF THE WATERFALL. BUT (there’s always a “but” when you’re about to reach your goal) the only thing in the way of getting to the creak was EVEN BIGGER STONES and there was absolutely nothing to grab on to get down to where I needed to be.
Just as I had given up hope, I turn around and see another COLOSSAL rock BUT this time there was a way to the bottom…A ROPE. Now, if you’ve seen my arms, we all know that I cannot carry my body with these things for THE LIFE OF ME and for whatever reason, I completely forgot about that and suddenly had STRENGTH. I take off my sweater, store my camera in my backpack, and rub my hands together, HERE WE GO.
And…I MADE IT!! I REACHED MY DESTINATION! SI SE PUEDE! SI SE PUDO! AND I DID IT ALL ON MY OWN.
Then. I got to thinking.
I got to thinking about a year ago today. A year ago today, again, I found myself on my own only on a much rockier path than the one I went through this afternoon. And along the way, when I lost the faith and hope I so strongly used to hold on to, much like the rope I found during my little excursion, I was blessed with the help that I needed- in friendships, spirituality, new people, new work outlets, guidance, etc.- all leading me to the destination I am at THIS MOMENT. I am currently living and breathing my goal, my dream, MY PRAYER...despite all the colossal boulders I encountered to get here, I got here.
And all I can say in response to that is THANK YOU.
(If you’ve gotten this far, thank YOU)
