Tip the Waiter

Clearly, we were in a very up scale restaurant when we were being served by this handsome waiter! Lest you think I prompted him to do this, it was totally his own idea. Yes, I merely provided the props of the silver tray and the arm towel. He provided the delivery service of individual cupcakes to his sisters and Pa. Adorable idea, compounded by him in pajama bottoms and shirtless!
"Oh, Jack, you slay me!"
Needless to say, I left a big tip!

Thank You

I so did not want to run this morning! Stayed up too late and wasn't feeling it at all, but she was waiting for me and I knew it. Why did I say yes to 5 miles at 5:30am!?! My right foot had this weird pain that comes and goes and today it had taken up full time residence and was making itself known loud and clear! Running on it was probably foolish. It needed rest...and so did I! Blah! Blah! Blah! Yes, that's what all the excuses start to sound like after awhile, even in your head.
The first step is the hardest, but the final step is, oh, so statisfying.
Thanks, Amber, for getting me out there this morning. It really is the best part of my day!

Summer Kick Off

Where does the time go? Hasn't every adult uttered this sentence at least once in their life? We were both much younger when this photo was taken (feels like yesterday!)
Today marks the start of the Memorial Day long weekend, the unofficial start of summer. I am left wondering where almost half the year has gone, let alone the month of May! Looking at old pictures makes me realize that the time is moving like a high speed rail. Get in, sit down, buckle up, but most of all, enjoy the ride!!

I'm Happy for You...Kind Of

Frankly, I have hesitated writing a blog about this topic for fear you will discover what a truly wretched person I am! I pose the question ~ Are we ever REALLY happy for someone else's success? Of course, I know the politically correct, Christian thing to say is, "Yes! I am happy for them! Really!!" Then, once we blurt out those words, how many times does that little voice in our head say far different things? Why wasn't it me? I wish I had been that...lucky...smart...in the right place, at the right time! We may even wonder if there is a finite amount of success in our little world and, by our friend grabbing some of it, are we less likely to get any for our own? Logically, I know this is absurd, but, emotionally, I am not so sure.
Success comes in many forms. In our society, money is the first indicator most people use to measure success. I have been rich and I have been poor. Trust me, rich is way more fun but it also can be fleeting. Very few people got through these last few years in this economy unscathed. Those that seem well off may be doing so with what my husband and I call "All flash ~ no cash." Keeping up with the Jones no longer seems a worthwhile goal. Getting rid of debt is far more satisfying.
 Success in relationships is right up there in importance. Just ask the person in a loveless marriage or someone who has few or no real friends. Do we begrudge people who seem to be truly happily married? Do we tsk tsk when a couple splits up and say it's too bad....poor kids...etc all the while, saying to ourselves, "Thank God it's not us!"
Success isn't a word we often associate with health, but aren't we successful if our body and mind work as they are supposed to each day? We can get up and go about our daily life injury and disease free. Often overlooked on the days we feel well, lamented on the days we don't. We may not even realize our inner voice sighing with relief when we hear of someone else's health problems. We are sorry for them, sure, but we are even more thankful it's not us. 
It all brings me back to my original question ~ Are we ever REALLY happy for someone else's success? Are you? Can you admit it if sometimes you are not? By your comments when you see me, many people read my blog but few actually write a comment. I would love to have this post start a dialog about this topic. I really want to know what you think about this.

Biggsuzi

Magic Shoe 5K

"Wow! I really regret that workout." said no one EVER!!!
Signing up for a race, having it staring at your on your calendar, can be both motivating and intimidating. These two lovely ladies ran the Magic Shoe 5K with me on Saturday. It was Amber's first, ever and Jenn's second, but she mostly walked the first one, so it was a biggie for her too. Yes, I am the crazy, older lady who keeps pushing and telling them they can do it and go, go, go! Anyone who has known me for a long time, knows how completely whacked that statement is. Never an athlete, much less a runner and now I cannot imagine running not being a part of my life.
They both had GREAT times and finished strong. I am so proud of them. We all run for different reasons. Amber has been on an exercise and healthy eating pattern since the new year and has seen huge positive results, on the scale and in her head. Jenn is a new mommy of less than five months and working on getting back into shape. Me, I like my pinot noir and want to be able to enjoy it without packing on the post-menopausal pounds.
Yes, it was hard, even for me, and it was my 17th 5K! I think the point is that it should be a little hard. Easy is for anybody and everybody. We, three, are hardly anybody!!!
Just put one foot in front of the other, girls...keep going...can't wait for the next race!!

Heads Up (or OUT!)

Jack is completely fascinated by the fact that Callie loves to stick her head out the window of the car into the wind. I, too, wonder why dogs love this so much. If you blow into their face, they hate it! Why do they like to have the wind on their face where they can hardly breath?! Makes no sense!
Jack decided that, as the saying goes "If you can't beat them, join them." and he stuck his head out the window to test it out. I had to capture it in a photo, but could barely manage it, as I was laughing so hard!
They are both characters who enrich my life ~ window or no window!
 

Firsts/Lasts

 Chat with any new mother, and she will surely tell you about some "firsts" for her baby ~ first time they smiled, first time they slept through the night, first time they crawled. Having children creates a lot of "firsts". When you are experiencing these firsts, it is a little difficult to believe that, sooner than you realize, you begin to also experience "lasts".
Today, was a "last" for me. For all three grandchildren, near the end of their Pre-K school year, I have gone into the classroom and cooked tacos for all the kids and teachers. Today marked the last time I will be doing that, as it is Abbey's final year there. It was fun and yet bittersweet. The kids have been at this preschool for 6+ years, all together. The teachers and staff have pretty much stayed the same for the whole time. They are kind and loving women who have helped so many kids reach "firsts" and "lasts". They have always been welcoming to this grammie.

What I realized today is, no matter what your age or stage of life, we are all experiencing "firsts" and "lasts". Sometimes we don't even realize it is a "last" until some time has passed and we look back. I know there are many more "firsts" for my grandchildren and I can't wait to be on the sidelines each and every one of those times, cheering them on and lauding their success or holding them close and wiping back tears to ease their hurts.
Messy stuff, this thing we call life. Messy and truly wonderful.
 Maybe it even holds a few more "firsts" for me!

Moving Forward

At first glance, this may seem like a motivational running sign, but I think it applies to all of life as well. Many of us don't start something for fear of  not finishing or failing. The true failure is never trying ~ trying new things, learning something new, opening our minds and hearts to thinking new ways.
I have failed at things a few times in my life, and it feels pretty lousy. It surely doesn't fit into my perfectionist thinking. It took a while to shake off the negative feelings and move forward, but eventually, I did.
This I know, moving forward will always beat standing still.