More Comments on a Charmed Life

I have heard my sister say I lead a charmed life.  Sometimes it feels that way to me, too, but it honestly hasn’t lately.  Until today. 

As  I mentioned, I booked an early flight, Flight #1, to save the company $200.  And then I volunteered to be bumped so I could get the free travel voucher.  They had almost finished boarding Flight #1 when they called me up to the counter to get my boarding pass for Flight #3 and my free travel voucher.  As I stood at the desk, they announced a weather delay in Chicago and made everyone get off the plane they had just gotten on.  It turned out that the later flight, Flight #3, might actually be leaving before Flight #1.

I walked from Gate B11 to Gate A24 to check-in for Flight #3.  The first thing I hear is that they need volunteers to be bumped to a flight getting in just after Midnight in Chicago.  I didn’t care – and the idea that I could get TWO free round-trip tickets in one day was pretty compelling.  I was first in line to put my name on the list.

A few minutes later, they called me to the counter and asked if I would mind taking Flight #1.  I said “I just got bumped from flight #1, but I don’t mind going back there.”  They were shocked and said “Let’s just keep it status quo for now.”  “OK” I said before returning to my seat.  A few minutes later they called me up again.  Would I mind flying First Class on Flight #1?  Let me think.  Let me think.  I asked if I would still get my voucher.  They assured me that I would.  I accepted the flight in First Class and lugged my things from Gate A24 back to Gate B11.

I boarded flight #1.  Sitting next to me in first class is an old friend, Mark, who helped me put my bag in the overhead.  I have two FREE round-trip travel vouchers in my purse.  Sometimes, little things make me feel like God is whispering in my ear “Psst.  It’s going to be OK.”

Tunnels and Light

Sometimes, life is hard.  Sometimes, things that I count on, that I know will remain good and constant, are ripped apart.  Sometimes, God calls me to just be still and let the storm pass.  But in the darkness it’s tough to know how to appropriately respond.  It’s been stormy here lately.  2008 has not started out very smoothly.  But, there has been good.  A lot of good and it’s important to focus on the positive.  Like today…

The way I am attempting to support my marathon habit is by using free tickets when I want to travel to a marathon.  It’s looking like this plan might pan out pretty well in the coming months!  At the start of 2008, I had four tickets.  I will have used two of them to visit my ailing mother by the end of this month.  That leaves two left.  Sounds like the Newport, OR marathon and the Akron, OH marathon.  But what about Providence, RI?  (The same weekend as my friend, Suzanne’s wedding.)  What about Shamrock in Virginia Beach, VA?  (My friend from Boston, Robin, invited me to go and she would act as my support crew.  Her son is also running it with all the training and planning that only a distracted college student can bring.  I am sure some of these guys think “If my mom can do it, it must be easy.”

I booked the early flight to Chicago this morning because it saved my company $200 and I didn’t mind spending the afternoon in the hotel room working.  They just called for volunteers because the plane is oversold.  I volunteered, got bumped an hour, and will get a travel voucher for a free round trip anywhere US Air flies.  Like Providence, RI and Virginia Beach, VA.  I am so lucky.  I will focus on this nugget of good for the next five minutes, at least.

What’s Next?

Great news!  My friend, Karen, wants to run another marathon!  We’ve put in some easy runs every day this week, after taking a rest day on Monday.  I think this is the least sore I have felt after a marathon.  But I sure don’t have that youthful spring.  Kind of ticks me off.  I think I’m making excuses.  But then tonight the waitress at PF Changs refilled Charlie’s water glass by bending her wrist backward as she held the pitcher to get a less instrusive angle.  I thought about how I used to be able to bend my wrists that way, but arthritis won’t let me any more.  And it isn’t about pain.  It’s just that they can’t.  I hate limits.

PF Chang’s Marathon 1-13-08

My goal yesterday was to run with my friend, Karen, through her first marathon and support her in any way she needed.  I am happy to say I met my goal with flying colors!Karen did a great job and we finished in 4:18:45.  I had a blast.  I high fived the kids (especially the girls) and I met people I knew, chatted with folks and basically enjoyed the run in my home town.  I hope that the event encourages more people to run and that our sport continues to grow. 

Hannah

Almost three years ago, Hannah came into our lives.  She was a perfect fit for our family and became part of us right away.  She loved going to walks and playing fetch.  She loved playing in the neighborhood with the other dogs – after she showed them that she was boss.  But by far her favorite activity was family pool time.  She could play pool fetch with her red ball for hours.  She even learned how to dive for it.  A trick she taught herself.  The kids joked around and called her “Seymour” because when she did this, she reminded them of the sea lion at Sea World.  She spent every day curled up next to my desk, joining me when I went out to get the mail, and watching attentively as I cooked my lunch – hoping I would drop something.

A few months ago, we found a lump.  It was removed and the vet thought he got it all.  He said it looked well encapsulated and we hoped for the best.  But her cancer moved very quickly and just after Christmas she noticeably slowed down.  We took her to the vet last week and he ran a bunch of tests.  Nothing came back as an obvious source of her trouble, but it was obvious something was wrong.  That was last Thursday.  By Monday, she had stopped eating, began vomiting, and became lethargic.  I called the vet who decided to keep her for the day today and run more tests.  He found that the cancer had spread pervasively through her system.  He said she didn’t need to go down today, but the thought of making her suffer any longer was too much for me to bear.  It was so hard for her to get in and out of the car, I didn’t want to force her to make the trip back and forth to the vet again.  I thought of last night when she chose to sleep outside and my worrying all night that she would be dead in the morning.

I already miss the creaking of the floor as she went from room to room making her nighttime bed check of all the kids.  I miss having to be careful where I step as I crawl into bed because she always slept by my side of the bed.  We were blessed with her for almost three years and we have treasured memories.  We really miss our friend.

It’s All About You

I know someone who thinks that I blog about her.  She says “Was that me you were writing about?”  Usually, the answer is “No.”  But today if she asks me, the answer will be “You betcha.”

Last night she criticized insightfully commented that my goals for 2008.  She seemed to scoff that I hadn’t gained any weight.  Truth is, I have gained a lot of weight, but the NET change is 0.  She’s right.  My goals are lame.  I was in a hurry.  She said “Aren’t you already being the best mom you can be?”  Grrr.  I hate it when she’s right.  I know that goals should be measurable, attainable, and have a deadline.  “Being the best mom I can be” is tough to measure and I don’t know what the deadline would be.  So, here goes.  Take two.  And if this anonymous person would like to be critical again, I invite her to share her criticism in a comment for everyone to read. 

Fiscal:  Prepare a budget and write down spending.

Physical:  Run a marathon in at least three new states.

Work:  Write 4 new articles.  Make a “to do” list at night for the next day – before I quit working for the day.

Mom:  Eat dinner as a family 4 times per week.

Auld Lang Syne

2007 In Numbers:

Marathons:  5
New States:  4
Pounds Gained: 0

Someone said to me today that she is happy to see 2007 go.  I take that to mean that she didn’t like it very much.  As I reflect on the year, it certainly had challenges.  From injuring my hip flexor in January, to my husband’s multiple surgeries, but on balance, it’s been a pretty good year.  First and foremost, we have friends.  We live in a loving, supportive community that gives and accepts help.  We know some amazing people.  One of my friends has given 7 eulogies this past year for family and friends.  I told her with all that experience, I wanted to book her for mine.  But I hope I don’t need it any time soon.  There are three little old ladies who walk together in the morning on the canal.  I tell my buddies that I want that to be us.

I read today in Runner’s World I read that the weather conditions were WORSE at Twin Cities than they were at Chicago on the same day.  And I was upset about missing my goal by less than two minutes!  I felt soft and not mentally tough.  Perhaps my allegedly lack of mental toughness kept me from ending up in the medical tent.  Suddenly, I don’t feel so bad about my 4:01:43.

Goals for the new year: 

• 3 new states.  I hope to pick up Texas, Oregon, and Hawaii.  (And that’s in the first six months, so I have the opportunity to grab a few more on the back end!  But this is a costly hobby, so I might have to put it off a bit.)
• Be the best Mom I can be.
• Be the best employee I can be.
• Give to others.  Help others.  High five the kids and tell them they can do it.  And I am proud of them.

Happy New Year!