Sibling Rivalry

Sibling rivalry has been around since the bible (think Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers). These days, it falls into ~"She keeps touching me!" "She's on my side!" She won't put the iPad in the middle of us so I can see too!" "She took the last sugar cone!" Much of the same exasperated words spoken by generations when you live in a house with two or more kids.
However, every once on a while, you walk into a room to witness a sight like this one. Two sisters, engrossed in a TV show, one lying on top while the older one holds her up. Daily annoyances forgotten temporarily. Just hanging out peacefully for a short while.
I am just happy it lasted long enough for me to capture it on my camera!
Proof that sibling love can shine through sibling rivalry every once in a while.

Race Thoughts

 On Sunday, I ran my 22nd half marathon in five years. It was a lovely, overcast morning and perfect for running.  Running for two plus hours gives you a lot of time to think. It is one of the things I really like about running. Here are some random things I thought and observed on this run:

1. I noticed a lady and man holding hands in front of me. My first thought was, oh brother, you gotta hold hands during the run? Really? Then they abruptly cut in front of me and I saw that the lady had a distinct limp and a brace on her left leg. I looked at the back of her shirt and it said, "I survived a stroke." I realized that they were not holding hands lovey-dovey. They were holding hands to help her keep her balance and keep going. I ran over to her, patted her on the back and said, "You go girl!" She replied with a garbled, "Thank you." I immediately started to cry and continued to do so for the next mile. My contacts clouded over and the rest of the race was a bit hazy for me. I couldn't stop thinking about that women, working to overcome tremendous odds, out there on the race course. What an amazing example of the human spirit and what we can do when we set our minds to it. I will never forget her.
2. I was probably on about mile eight or nine and I had been off and on following or going ahead of this guy wearing pajama pants! Hard to miss a person in a half marathon in black and yellow plaid pajama pants! He ran up along side of me and said, "Boy, you keep a pretty good pace for walking!" I looked at pajama pant guy and said, "Gee, I thought I was running!" I was so pissed off, I took off and left him in the dust never to be seen again! I may be slow, but, damn, I run! Having several more miles to think, it dawned on me that he had probably been watching me for several miles. In fact, in my long races, I run a mile and walk a minute. It's how I make sure I have plenty of gas in the tank to finish the race as strongly as I can. Maybe, instead of a slight, he meant that he had seen me slow to the walk every so often and I was still keeping up with him and his pajama pants! Maybe it was a complement, but in my near exhausted state, I assumed the worst. Good life lesson. Quick to judge is usually not the way to go.
3. I also started thinking, could I run 65 half marathons by the time I am 65??? Given that this was only #22, it is a BIG challenge. When the race was over, I tossed the idea at my husband and his first response was, "Why would you want to do that?!" Sensing my annoyance, he thought a moment and said, "Why don't you try for 75 half marathons by the time you are 75? That gives you 10 more years and you only have to run an additional 10 races." Hmmmm, it's a thought, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that I will still be running half marathons at 75! It would be a joyful blessing, but who knows? Most 75 year olds get tired walking through the grocery store. Maybe I could be the exception. Now wouldn't be something?  My thoughts return to the stroke lady and the notion that anything is possible.

The race is over, but these thoughts will stay with me for a long time. None of them are really about running. They are more about life and pushing your limits and working toward goals and never giving up. More life thoughts that can apply to anyone ~ runner or not.

 

Truth

Simple truth for Tuesday.
Note to self: Sometimes the first part overshadows the second part. Don't believe it!
It is the so very beautiful part that keeps us going.
Keep looking for that part, even when it seems to be doing a really good job of hiding!
Amen.

Not an Option

 

 

“Fitness for the young is an option. Fitness for the old is an imperative,” says Walter M. Bortz II, MD, professor of medicine at Stanford University and longevity expert.
I saw this quote in an article I read this week. Ahhhh, youth. They feel they are invincible. They feel they will live forever. They feel nothing can touch them.
As we age, and, hopefully mature, we learn that what we did easily in our 20s is not so easy in our 50s and 60s. The body betrays us much earlier than we think it will. For me, I am far more fit and healthy today than I was in my 30s. Yes, youth and gravity were on my side back then, but I did nothing in the way of exercise or conscious fitness. I was just lucky.
Today, I am much more aware of keeping my body moving. The old adage, "Use it or lose it." rings in my head. Days when I run are better days than those when I don't. Yes, there are aches and pains. Yes, there is stiffness. When did getting up from sitting on the floor require such a slow and steady process? I can only imagine how hard it would be if I just sat around all day. Yikes!
No matter how careful we are and how healthy we try to live, health promises us nothing. One day we are fine and the next day we are sick. It happens, without warning, even to the heartiest among us. We all know a story about a friend or a friend of a friend or a family member who no longer has their health. We shake our head, tsk tsk, and say a silent prayer of thanksgiving that it is not us. Not yet. Not today.
And that is why, fitness now, in my golden years, is not an option. It is imperative.

Don't Stress the Mess

For Easter this year, I asked "the trio" if they wanted a gift or an adventure. When they all immediately exclaimed, "Adventure!", I was so proud!  I mean, who can remember what we gave them last Easter? Memories made together seem the greater gift. We decided a 3D movie in the afternoon, favorite take out dinner (orange chicken), and a sleepover in the tent out back had all the makings of an "adventure".

 I had seen this amazing idea on the internet for building with mini marshmallows and toothpicks and knew we had to give it a try. These kids, who only know the iPad, selfies, Apple TV, computers, etc. sat down at the dining room table and just began to create. There were no instructions, no rules, except just build something.  They each had a box of 1000 toothpicks and their own bag of marshmallows. I got the toothpicks at the dollar store and the marshmallows on sale at the market for 88 cents a bag. Total investment ~ $5.64. So far, so good!
Now these three may be related, but they are each VERY different and their approach to building reflected their uniqueness. Maddy, usually one to get sidetracked easily, was the most focused and intent. Abbey, always wanting to be right, the winner, the best, the most, made LOTS of different things.

 She made me wear the crown she created. After all, I have taught them they are princesses, but I will forever be The Queen!

 Anyone who knows Abbey, knows one of her prized possessions is her stuffed bear, Rusty. She made her own version of Rusty and I love the result.

 Pa walked by and Abbey insisted he get in on the action. He sat down and immediately made Abbey's name. Seeing this, and not to be outdone, Abbey then returned the favor and made Papa's name. Gotta love those two, each the others biggest fan!

 Jack's structure was, by far, the biggest and most elaborate. All through it, he kept saying, ""This is so cool, Grammie!" At the end, the table was filled with their creations. What we discovered was as the marshmallows are exposed to the air, they get harder and harder, thereby making each structure stronger. The next morning, they were able to pick them up and they stayed just as they had built them. Each kid wanted to take them home. I told them their mother would not let them. It was, after all, made from food and would attract bugs eventually. Besides, their mom does not like clutter and I am pretty sure this would qualify as clutter in her book!
That's when I realized the difference between being the parent and being the grandparent. I, too, kept a tidy and orderly house when my kids were growing up. Messes made me a little crazy. Now, as much as I still like a tidy house, when the kids are over and we are deep in projects, I know that the mess will be there too. Sippy cups will be strewn about the house, often found later with unidentifiable liquid inside! PJs will be dropped in the entry way or down the hall. There will be toothpaste left in the sink. And, guess what?  It's all okay!  I don't stress the mess. It means they are here. They are having fun. We are making memories. All good news!

These faces of joy make our lives bigger, happier and messier than we ever could have imagined.
"Hey, Grammie, remember when we........" Music to my ears!

It's A Sign

Some days, you're out running errands on a regular old Tuesday and something jumps out at you from a store window. It speaks to you without saying a word. It makes you stop, pull out your phone and take a picture. Just so you can remember...especially on the lousy days!
Remember, you only get one!

Her Note

I have  no idea why she wrote this paper. It's not like she doesn't forage in the pantry every time she is over at our house. The skinniest, tiniest of the three and yet she snacks constantly! The wild look in those eyes just cracks me up!
Don't mess with Abbey! She always (almost) gets just what she wants!! Woe the person in her way!!