I've Been Around the World...

I've been a freelance writer for the last 20 years. What this means is I can go where I want to go, when I want to go, and stay for as long as I can afford it, because I can do my work from anywhere.

My sister, on the other hand, has been in the Air Force for 20 years, and has lived in England, in Japan, and now in Germany. And since she's the bestest sister in the whole world, I've been able to travel to these countries and stay with her for months at a time. (She's been married for ten years, I have not.)

And in each country, I've usually discovered a new sport to watch and enjoy. In England it was cricket (and the game of snooker). In Japan it was sumo wrestling (although admittedly it was at the time when two Hawaiian rikishi were at the top of the heap - Akebono was yokozuna and Musashimaru was an ozeki and then, (very briefly), a yokozuna...although the one I really enjoyed watching was Terao, a "small" rikishi who was well muscled with only the slightest of paunches...)

In Germany, however, it didn't happen. I was there while the World Cup of soccer was going on, and I diligently watched a couple of games...but it was bor-ring.

However, while I didn't find a new sport to watch I did find a new sport - rappelling. My sister and I went with a group to Luxembourg to go caving - a small cave - three very short rappels and we were done. But we were first taught how to rappel off a short cliff, and I loved that rappel and each suceeding journey downwards.

I haven't sought out the opportunity to do it since, but I'll be returning to Germany in August so hopefully will have a chance to go back toLuxembourg and do some more caving - and rappelling.