What Makes Me Laugh

That’s what my friend Crystal said when she realized that Doug wasn’t aware we were planning a trip to Vegas. 

“Yeah,” I said, giving a sheepish look over at Doug. “I haven’t told him yet. But I was going to soon!”

See, I have this bad habit of asking for forgiveness rather than permission (not that I need to ask permission from my husband to do anything, but we do make joint financial decisions together). And I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to go, and then there wasn’t a good time to say anything, and so I procrastinated. 

Anyway, let me back up here. I think I’m getting ahead of myself. This whole thing started with a call from my sister a couple of weeks ago.  “Hey,” she said. “I was wondering if you wanted to run a half marathon in Vegas with me.” 

“Yes!” I answered without thinking. “When is it?” 

“December 6.”

A good time of year to leave Montana. Sun in December. Just when I need it most. Plus, a fun girls trip with my sister. Plus, I’ve never been to Vegas (gambling doesn’t excite me), and we would be running on the strip in the Rock ‘n Roll marathon. Plus, I need motivation to complete my second wildly improbable goal: running a 10k in 50 minutes. I know that’s a slug pace for most runners, but believe me, it’s wildly improbable for me. I chronicled my first wildly improbable goal — winning a trip to Australia — a few months ago, and that was an awesome experience.

So, I asked Crystal if she wanted to run it with me. Before I got around to telling Doug. But I had a lot of time to tell him! Months to go even, if it just hadn’t have slipped out at dinner we might have gone weeks before having the, “You’re going to Vegas? On a girls trip? Without me?” discussion.

Anyway, that’s over now, and he’s cool with it, but I think he’s still willing to go and crash the party if I let him. Besides, he pointed out, there’s a run through wedding option during the marathon so we could renew our vows during the run! Hmm, now that’s an idea. I wonder if I’d have to buy a white running outfit?

No, no, no — Doug can’t go. Sorry honey, this is a girls trip, and training started this week. Crystal and I are running with the baby in the jogger and the dog’s leash in my hand. It’s an adventure every morning. It’s a wildly improbable goal. In Vegas! With the girls!