The RACE!

The rain was falling when Dan peeked in the door and said, "They're here!"  I was pulling a Thai chicken pizza out of the oven when I heard Zachy squeal "Unkie Dan!!!"  After a dinner of fun conversations and eagerness about the next day's 10k, we played around the house with the kids. My dad even surprised us from Virginia!!  Raschelle, Mom, Rebecca, Dad, Zach, Allie, Dan...what more could I ask for?

The next morning, the rain was still falling and that alarm 'wah, wah wah wah' going off was jarring to my soul. As I stepped out using my muscles for the first time, they awoke with excitement. 

Downtown on 6th street, there was an anxious feeling about all the 10k participants, including Raschelle who decided to join us (!!!!!) for the 10k instead of the 5k.   One man was so distracted that he forgot to hit the lock button on the port-a-jon and was SURPRISED by me... (a-w-k-w-a-r-d)  

We started out together and with rain showers passing along the 6.2 miles, we split up but all came together at the end.  As I was running, I was thinking hard to myself about all the training I'd done up to this point.  I felt feelings I've never felt because I was experiencing something I had never done.   A 10k might not be a milestone in your life (either because you've run ten marathons or cant even walk the mall) but it sure was for me. I felt like I could change the world...and I did. I encouraged people around me on their last .1 mile to the finish line and with joy and excitement, we cheered Raschelle in what I hope was one of her proudest moments.  

Pictures weren't taken as much as we had planned ,there was miscommunication on the part of the finish-line destination but, we were together...bananas and powerade...and we finished

remembering

As I was sitting with my coffee and peanut butter graham crackers this morning, I was reminded of being in 2nd period Spanish when a student came in and said, "A plane just flew into the World Trade Center."  

I laughed, "Dummy!" 

I was corrected, "Jenny, it was a huge plane, not some single-seater."  

Little did I know our world would change... How could I laugh? I feel no guilt for my stupidity, I became instantly sensitive, emotional and worried as I ran to the office to make sure my Mom knew and that my Dad, who was still on Base, was okay.  That day was wretched as I watched 'live' the second plane and heard of the rumors of other planes.  The footage is embedded in my brain and memory and I am grateful for the pain. It reminds me.

Lets take a moment, reflect on that day and the past years...and realize that we've been kept safe from other attacks. There have been serious threats and serious dangers and we've taken advantage of our freedom and easy-going-ness that allows us to work, play, shop, live, walk and survive in these dangerous times.  

Thank someone today for protecting this country and remember the soldiers who've died for terrorism and remember those who died innocently on September 11, 2001.

'she has chocolate'

Well, the best part of my day (week, month etc) was getting to see Allie and Zach...and Rebecca and Raschelle for a few hours today. We met in Greenville, SC, a perfect half-way point for us all. I was thrilled when Rebecca asked if I would take some photos of the children for her. I enjoyed this adventure getting them both to behave, smile, laugh etc in a gorgeous garden in the historic district of the city. Here are some of the prettiest.







ps- the title of the post regards a comment made by Zach when mommy was changing Allie's diaper...you understand...