Normally, I am happy and contented and suffer only occasional bouts of frustration. I mean, we all have to deal with reality checks at times.
I spend more than a little effort trying to do the right thing because I believe karma can be powerful, both good and bad. Generally good triumphs over evil and doing the right thing pays off. Of course, not always.
Let’s face it, sometimes when you bend to smell the flowers, you get a nose covered in fertilizer. The past few weeks have really been busy and everything has been overly complicated. It’s that time of year when numerous projects are wrapping up, while others are just beginning. Everything and everyone has been clamoring for my attention (at least from my totally unbiased perspective). But as a co-worker said, “Sometimes you’ve got to laugh and keep on going.”
We’ve been working long hours…..
Leaving at 6:30 AM for the office
Returning home late from the office.
As you can see, I’m definitely not getting enough sunshine!
I thought I was internalizing my grumpiness pretty well, but I may not have been as successful as I thought.
A good friend stopped by my office with a gift. She said this can be for now or later, you decide. Well of course I chose to open it immediately. It was a present after all. What was inside, made me smile and tear up a little. Underneath a plump stuffed gray elephant lay a book, titled, “You’re Here for a Reason”, by Nancy Tillman.
I’m very fortunate to have a caring and generous friend to remind me what is important. The rest of the story……
My friend is very close to her great nieces. They were out shopping and she has bought me gifts before when they were with her. They are all between 4 – 8 years old. They showed her the book and said, “If someone is having a really bad day, this is the bestest book to read.” Of course she bought it immediately and that is why it ended up on my desk last night.
I will cherish it always and any time I’m feeling down, I think I know just what I want to read.
Last Friday, Ron and I headed to the Austin-Bergstrom international airport en route to our destination Atlanta, Ga. I was nervous and excited. If all went according to plan, I could cross two things off my life list. My life list is like a bucket list, but a lot more fluid. I add, change and delete from the list regularly. I planned to run a marathon in Alabama on Saturday. This would be my 17th state to complete a marathon. I also intended to run a half marathon in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Sunday.
There are many people who run back to back marathons and routinely compete on consecutive days. But not me! This would be my first “double weekend”. I considered running the marathon course for both Saturday and Sunday but soon changed my mind. Ron enthusiastically signed up for a marathon on both days.
We booked our flights on a budget airline, so we had to get creative with our packing. Running clothes and shoes for both races had to go in our carryon luggage for safekeeping. The airline charged for carryon luggage but allowed a personal item at no charge. I conscientiously stuffed running shoes, tights, and shirts in my backpack along with my kindle, purse and snacks. Although, I secretly believed if our running clothes got misplaced, it would be a sign. No running shoes or clothes? It just wasn’t meant to be.
In spite of long security lines, we made it to our gate with time to spare. Once on board, I looked forward to napping, but I discovered the seats didn’t recline. No nap for me! I couldn’t get comfortable enough to rest.
Arriving in Atlanta after two hours flying time, even sans nap I felt great. Several trains, walkways, and stairs later we arrived at the rental car lot. After a quick lunch at Applebee’s in Marietta, GA we headed to Chattanooga to pick up our packets for Sunday’s run.
We pulled up to packet pick up after sundown and fifteen minutes before the eight o’clock deadline. Race numbers retrieved we left for Albertville, Ala to find our hotel.
Albertville is 30 miles from Lake Guntersville where the Mainly Marathons Appalachian Series Day seven was being run at 6:30 AM on Saturday morning. The thin hotel walls allowed us to hear talking and movement all night. I didn’t understand the purpose of the mirrors covering the wall behind the bed. I’m sure I slept some but it didn’t feel like it.
Lake Guntersville
Pulling my running clothes from my suitcase to dress, I couldn’t find my running bra. Sure enough I didn’t pack one. The most supportive bra I had with me was my Victoria Secret bra my daughter bought for me.
Victoria’s Secret bra, gloves, jacket, tights and long sleeve running shirt warded off the chill and made it the temperature more tolerable.
Arriving at the park, we checked in and picked up our T-shirts and medals. Yes, we received our medals before we ran. We had to wait until we finished to get our state and year attachments.
We lined up with 60 other marathon hopefuls, ready to run the out and back on the 2.184 mile course 12 times. As one of the other runners said, “After the first few times, you stop noticing how pretty this looks.” That quote was from Bryndis a marathoner from Iceland. There are four marathons a year in Iceland, so she travels to the USA to run. She had run a marathon with the group the previous day on a course that required running 21 laps. Many of the runners were completing the series and were on their seventh day of running. Running a marathon in laps takes patience. You keep up with the laps by taking a rubber band each time you complete a lap. The scenery was beautiful and several times we had to slow for ducks to meander across the trail.
Our bibs had our names printed on them and everyone soon learned our names and shouted support as we crisscrossed the course. It was soon impossible to know who was passing you and who you were passing but everyone was smiling. It was the most non-competitive event I’ve ever participated in.
The end! Is it really over?
My watch battery died before I finished so my last few laps were very relaxed. I finished with blisters on both feet. Taking my shoes off to change I discovered my Tiva’s were safe at home so I stood around in my socks. Ron brought me a cup of Fritos, pretzels, jelly beans and an orange for a recovery snack. It was fantastic!
We regrouped and left for Chattanooga. Stopping at a Mexican restaurant along the way and we had a lovely meal.
Anything would have tasted good but our food was great. The meal arrived just as the Texas A&M and Alabama football game began to broadcast on the television mounted above the bar. Since we were in Alabama, we didn’t advertise our support of the Texas team.
We made it to Chattanooga and checked into our hotel. It was lovely and more than made up for the first hotel. We each had showers and got comfortable while we waited for room service. I was feeling spoiled!
Our hotel was a mile from the race tents. We slept an hour later than Saturday and made it to the start around 6:30 AM. The marathon started at 7:00 AM and the half at 7:30 AM, so I was able to watch as Ron crossed the start line.
It was still 43 degrees, but I was getting used to the colder temperatures. Crossing the start line to the tune of Jump On It, by Sir Mix-a-lot was invigorating. Along the course you always meet interesting and fun people. Sunday was no exception. I ran with a couple who were married the day before and this was their honeymoon. Crazy, I think! I also ran with Jeanetta who was running because she is terrified of bridges. She chose to run the four bridges marathon to help get past her fears.
And there is always someone willing to give advice. My favorite advice overheard on Sunday was from a man running his first marathon. He said, “Never pass up an opportunity to pee!”
We both finished our races, Ron much stronger than me, but we had fun. After stopping for lunch at Genghis Grill, we returned to our hotel where we showered and napped before heading back out for ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s.
We wandered around downtown Chattanooga a while. We visited a book and yarn store where the owner was demonstrating how to use a spinning wheel. We ate again before going back to the hotel for the evening. Exhausted and sore, we slept early and soundly. We woke early on Monday and headed back to Atlanta. Our vacation was over. Marathon state #17 – check. Back to back race days – check!
Can you hear your song, Jilly Girl? Listen carefully! Your song is deep inside, but if you listen you can hear it. It is a conglomeration of thousands of melodies from everyone who helped make you. Your great-grandmother, Granny Greenway, Nana Thoma, Mama and great-aunts each contributed. There are lots more that I don’t even remember.”
I recently found this message I had written to my granddaughter 15 or 16 years ago. She had asked me to snuggle with her in our oversized recliner and watch a video. Yes, we were still playing video tapes on a VCR back then.
We watched as an inventor named Doc and his dog Sprocket wandered through Fraggle Rock. Fraggle Rock is a Muppet type show created by Jim Henson. It debuted in 1983. Jillian was born in 1996 and has always loved retro things. Betty Boop was her favorite animation and the theme from Top Gun was her favorite music. The Fraggles spent the episode searching for their songs. I heard Jillian humming, and realized she still had to find her inner songs.
I whispered to her, “Start looking now, before your life is cluttered with everyone else’s songs.”
Jillian is 19 years old now. We don’t fit in that old recliner any more. I’m sure neither of us have a copy of Fraggle Rock any longer. We still enjoying snuggling occasionally. She has a lovely song and it’s “cluttered” by many other songs. I was wrong in one respect. Her song is unique, but it’s definitely peppered with melodies and notes from everyone that has passed through her life and that’s the way it should be.
I haven’t shared this with Jillian and I don’t believe she will remember any advice I freely offered to her at 5 years young. I hope she will always remember those special memories we created and continues to enjoy creating more of them.
But mostly, I hope she knows, how beautiful her song has become.
I balance, I juggle and I try to stay afloat. People often tell me “You have to keep your life in balance.” Of course I immediately picture myself juggling colorful balls with my hands and feet. Keeping your life in balance….. What exactly does that mean anyway? I suppose the answer would depend upon who you ask.
I know I would like to keep my priorities straight and devote more time to things that are important to me. But if I were truly to do that, I’d be with my family 24/7 and I’m not sure they could handle me 24/7.
My work is not at the top of my priorities but I am in a committed relationship with my job. That means if I want to earn money I have to be productive. Occasionally that means working through the weekend or too many late nights in a row. People always tell me “You work too much!” I agree at times that’s true. As long as I choose to stay in this job, I am obligated to do it to the best of my ability. That doesn’t mean I’m not counting the days until I retire!
Writing is one of my favorite activities and pulls me in quickly. When I am in writing mode, I wake up thinking through story lines, dreaming about them. I sit at the computer creating every free minute. I am the same way when I am reading. Thoughts of any other activity are banished. But if I get derailed and lose focus, I’m done for the short term.
Exercise, I know it’s important and I enjoy working out. I’m not always thrilled with the process but I love the end results. I like feeling energized after a workout and I enjoy keeping fit but when I don’t stay vigilant, or have to miss a week, I find myself refocused on the next big thing.
And there’s nutrition. Everyone likes to weigh in on that one. Gluten free, high protein, low carb, no carb, vegetarian or carnivore. My food plan is pretty basic. Keep things as natural as possible. I avoid red meat, white meat, well pretty much all meat, but I do eat seafood and eggs.
I know I’m not good at balancing my competing agendas. If I notice I’ve been slipping and eating too much processed food or having too many treats, I back off and switch to salads, eliminate carbs and sweets and begin to worry about my weight.
When I start an exercise program, I’m all in. I know I can easily overdo. I immediately increase my intensity and frequency of exercise.
And work is just, well work! I like my job most days, but am not always good at delegating or walking away as often as I should.
So yes I can easily become obsessive and am often out of balance by many people’s standards. But, I love my life! I am happy and contented most days. So while I may not balance my activities, I am aware of it and will compensate next week, or next month or maybe when I retire.
I am not going to worry about it yet…… Maybe all this balance stuff is just too highly overrated!
Nana's Apron Strings 