Comfort Zone

After reading Dave’s note yesterday, I was reminded about a few of these out of 'comfort zone’ adventures Mike had with Dave and Brad.  I know when Mike was pushed physically and emotionally he could always laugh at himself after the fact...or at least laugh along with Dave and Brad.  I remember him talking about rock climbing with Dave and Brad years ago, which is an absurd proposition for Mike in so many ways.  He joked afterwards that he had ‘sewing machine leg’ which likely resulted from a combination of extreme fatigue coupled with a healthy dose of fear.  Picture all of Mike’s weight supported on the tip of one foot on a rock outcrop and that leg bouncing up and down uncontrollably.  At least that’s the way he described it to me.  He’d much rather have had his feet firmly planted on the ground.  Better yet, sitting down and drinking a coffee….or throwing around a football.  He would insist that a fear of heights was adaptive from an evolutionary standpoint…

Another out of 'comfort zone’ trip Mike had with Brad and Dave was a men’s ‘getaway’ before Brad’s wedding.  This trip was on a cold November week on a technically tough river, laden with rapids.  Hey, one of the guys even lost a tooth!  Mike was thoroughly challenged but came home happier for it.  This was Mike’s last canoe trip.   Shortly afterwards, simple partial seizures began to manifest in his right arm and he was subsequently diagnosed with a low grade brain tumour.  He didn’t want to put himself or others at risk in the event he had a grand mal seizure while paddling.  We were given beautiful paddles from Matt P. for our wedding but he decided it wasn’t safe for him to use them.  These paddles will soon make their way to the Nault Family cottage. 

Mike took on other challenges well outside of his ‘comfort zone’, such as a solo last minute trip to Turkey to present at a conference.  Despite a somewhat traumatic journey of missed/delayed flights and lost luggage he made the most of it—arriving home with great photos, lovely souvenirs for us, and some stylish new (by necessity) clothes. 

One of the things I will always love about Mike (and that list is long) was his ability to laugh at himself-- his insight into his own limitations – and his ability, when the time was right, to push (or be pushed) out of his 'comfort zone’.

Sarah