ahhh, matt

Most of you probably know by now that my siblings don't fit your typical box sized for the college graduate in professional or corporate American lifestyle (especially if that includes marriage or kids). Matt is no exception. In fact, he may be the innovator in our international interest and exploration. He set out on an adventure to Ghana for a semester in college before touring with Willie Nelson after graduation, joining the Peace Corp in Cameroon, purchasing a moto there to negotiate his way through West Africa to Mali, and then snagging work as a researcher on Alaskan fishing boats. He sort of sets his own schedule and runs with it.

I tried to convince him to rent an apartment with me this summer in Washington, but he concedes that committing to that would tie him down. It was worth a shot.

Yesterday, the two of us took off to Larabee Park. I vaguely remember visiting this place when I was younger, and thought it was make for a nice afternoon since the weather turned out unexpectedly sunny. We spent a bit of time bouldering, pondering, and wandering in the park. I love looking in the tide pools and smelling the salt water! Matt took to attempting a couple of rock faces while we were there, too.

This morning, he hopped in his new (used) car and drove off toward California. He's got a volunteer opportunity lined up to track rare foxes on some islands off the coast down there for a week. I hope to run into him again (when it's convenient) this summer before I leave for Antarctica again (and, yes, I'm headed to the White Continent for another fun and exciting season on ice).