zip zip

Today was a triumph. Went to the jungle for a jungle zip lining thing, that everyone who goes to costa rica is expected to try. Teddy was skeptical...not against it, but just Teddy about it-just like he is about swimming in the ocean at 6 am with Thomas...you can just seem him thinking "can't this wait until 7?" But the night before he said simply " I am doing it. " and he never wavered, try as I might to convince him to stay back with the women who were cooking our lunch in an effort to get their chicken and rice recipe out of them.
We get picked up and pick up others including a family of extremely skantily clad 19 year old girls with how shall I put this, s very jersey shore vibe about them. Mascara is put on liberally...the costa rican guide with very pale green eyes, seems interested in Mackenzie. I tell the boys if they ever bring home someone like that they should hide her from Tammy or me.
We go to the jungle, we get a safety demonstration that lasts five seconds...don play with the clips, lift jor legs, don swing. Any que-shons? Nana Matzo ball true to form is yelling queschons at me..like I am reinhold messner with a caribiner. My strategy becomes clear: I am going first...and that I do..first group, first person teddy who, frederick who..I am out of there. Here is the drill. You are clipped in by a young beefy Costa Rican who is clearly paid to flirt with over-the-hill gringos...darling this, honey that..one is totally into Nana Matzo Ball. "she is Hee-steriKal. " then you zip down through trees until you get to a __and this is the bad part- tree platform high, high f ing high in the air where you cling unattractively with your rear end out to the tree....waiting to go again.
First zip is fine..I think what is big deal. then Nana then Teddy..he seems happy..no problem...we carry on. Only really really scary part is this "swing" 150 feet in the air...I cannot explain it because I am in my zone...the same one that got me down Corbet's couloir...total denial with eyes closed. However, there was some drama behind me as this other super sweet 10 year old kid from bermuda..a kid who calls himself "a total wimp" is sobbing...I did not see this, because other people are not my main concern. But when I did see him, I really did fear he would pee his pants. I have never seem anyone's legs shake like that. No joke. He was terrified. Well of course this was all we needed...someone more scared than you makes you an instant hero and then teddy and i are now letting go as we swing...high fiving close to the edge of the tree stand, 100 feet up...we are into it.
Fabulous..nana is so scared, but she is euphoric...we are in the middle of a rain forest and the view is sublime.
Finally just as we are finishing, it starts to rain..hard crazy rain forest rain and we are now soaked...back for chicken and rice and coffee and Mackenzie watching ...whose mascara is now off and she seems panicky.
Teddy falls asleep in the bus on the way home..so cute. Tonight we are all dressed up for passover seder (sorry god it was late!) menu planned by teddy and the chef...thunder and lightening and something baking in the oven. xo