Could I run faster and other dirty, ugly secrets...

This morning I was exhausted.  I woke up after NOT a good night's sleep at 5:15 a.m. with a boy standing over my head with his iPhone screen flashed before my eyes. 

"Mom...hey...are you awake?  Hey...Dad's downstairs taking a shower he's making too much noise, can we have your bed?" 

"Ummmm..." I mumbled, "Sure."  And, I stumbled off downstairs to lay in the bed Will and his friend John who was sleeping over had just vacated.  Actually, Marc was making too much noise and soon I was up and fumbling at the coffee pot.  There's a lot of "umbling" in this story isn't there?

I was so tired (this is not typical for me and normally, I am up by 5:30 but in a much more chipper frame of mind) that I decided instead of my scheduled morning run, I'd just powerwalk. I started off in the growing light of morning and spotted up ahead of me some people I thought I knew and don't particularly care for.  I decided maybe I'd better run afterall, pass them and then walk again further down the road.  And the truth is that yes, in my little head, I was showing off that I run.  I diidn't want these people to think I was just a "walker."*

I quickly passed the women whom I didn't want classifying me as a walker (and who it turned out weren't who I thought they were) but just as I started to slow, coming at me was my dear friend Beth.  Beth is like, well, a Jack Russell Terrier.  I love Jack Russell Terriers.  I have two of them (well, one and a half).  I love Beth.  Beth is one of the most energetic and fit people, I know.  She's always upbeat, she's always got something up her sleeve and she's got muscles I covet.  (She also has a fabulous house and yard).  When I started running four years ago, Beth was one of those people that I held in my mind as my inspiration.

I've been feeling pretty good about my running lately.  I average about 20 miles a week ranging from 4.5 miles to as many as 7.  When I finish my long runs, I know I have more miles in me, I'm just out of time.   This morning I learned, I should not feel so good.

Beth sees me and says "Gwen!  let me run with you, I'm just finishing up.  I wanted to talk to you anyway."  I knew then I was in trouble.  Beth turns around and joins me on my run.  Suddenly, my pace picks up to her pace (speedy) and she's asking me deep, philosophical questions about things like whether sexual orientation has bearing on one's ability to minister, if you have to be a liberal to believe in social justice.  Questions I would LOVE to talk about if you weren't making me run a %$#*&() 7.5 minute mile and my heart and lungs weren't about to explode! 
 
In actuality, it was probably an 8-minute mile but nonetheless what an enlightening conversation we had that held great revelation for me.  For example, I now know with absolute certainty that I am a slow runner.  I have suspected that for some time but it's now verfied.  Two, I cannot run fast and talk sensibly at the same time.   Possibly, I can't even run slowly and talk at the same time.  Three, running with a friend is really fun and I should probably be doing that if I want to run faster.  Four, the next time I'm discussing philosphical and spiritual matters, I want it to be with a glass of wine.

On that note, I want to thank Beth for the lovely morning run that I thought wasn't going to happen.  Let's do it again soon!  And, maybe I'll have some better points to make in our continuing dialogue when my brain is being properly oxygenated.

*Please note that I think walking is a wonderful exercise and a much more sensible exercise than running.  Only crazy people run.    My own personal self-competitiveness holds no judgement for walkers.  Walk on, I say!!

My little pilgrim



Traveling attire
Scarf:  H & M (mine)
Top:  Uniqlo (mine)
Blue Jean shorts: American Eagle (hers)
Sandals: Chacos (hers)
Backpack: LandsEnd (hers)
Suitcase (vintage -- from me-- in fact, this is the very
suitcase I took to Europe with me on all my travels.  MR thought that was pretty cool
although Will thought it was hideous)



Ciao Baby!  Since I haven't gotten any photos of my little pilgrim actually in Italy, I thought some departing shots would be nice to share.

Off to the left in this photo is one of their leaders who is making her very first trip to Europe.  She's even older than I am,  My favorite part of the whole farewell scene was that her mom and dad brought her to the airport and her mom stood looking through the glass at the security gate with Marc, the Wilsons (Graff's mom and dad) and me as we watched our babies ride the escalators up and out of sight. 

Italy bound...Part 2

Here's an even better blog link for the pilgrims.  Click Here!

I'm helping Graff pack this morning too via text and phone call.  His mom is the priest for Reading Camp at the Cathedral Domain this week so he's sort of on his own for his Italy packing.  Mary Rollins sent him a packing list and I coached him through laundry long-distance on Monday.  Frankly, I was really impressed that he was doing his own laundry.  I don't think Mary Rollins could do her own and Will, HA!, he can't even find the laundry basket!

Italy bound...

Mary Rollins leaves this afternoon for the long-anticipated pilgrimmage to Italy with Wonder Voyage!  What could be better than to be 15 and going to Italy?  Certainly not staying home with your parents and pesky little brother!  First stop Rome, then Florence then Assissi. 

Bon voyage and she sends her heartfelt thanks to all (Isabug and Aunt Stacey) who contributed to the J2A fundraising events.  Postcards have been promised! 

Also, you can become a fan of Wonder Voyage on Facebook and I believe they may have periodic pictures from the trip on-line. 

Bybee sadness

It finally happened. That which I have most dreaded (and it's not the return of the Dark Lord you kooky Harry Potter readers).  Bybee Pottery has laid off its workers, sold off their inventory and may be closing its doors forever. 

I was making Marc his coffee this morning in the Bybee mug that I bought back in 1988 for my first apartment and looked at the big cracks down the side that have been developing over the last couple of months.  They never bothered me before because that mug was ever so replaceable!  No more.  I touch every piece of Bybee with such tenderness now. 

Dang it. I'm hopeful that this is merely a temporary hiatus of pottery-making but do, please, be extra careful with your Bybee.



My beautiful Bybee (replacement) canisters.  Made especially for me.  They rank high on my
list of best loved material goods.



Some summer...

Sitting at the Pops...

Greetings friends.  I'm at the Pops' house this morning sitting with Dad while Mom is off to some such medical test or another.  I was attempting to do some work on my laptop which I brought but apparently, Mom unplugged the wireless router for too long so I can't figure out the password and have no internet access.  Now, I'm using Dad's super-fancy Apple computer, but can't figure out how to get a new tab in Safari.  I have discovered though that I can get all the family blogs as saved screens.    This blog is here, Isabelle+David, and the Selbies. I think the Selbies might be the homepage, in fact.  So I guess if Grandpa can't use his computer for much of anything else, at least he can keep up with the family news.

What's news at our house?  Mary Rollins is off to camp this week.  Next week she's off to Italy!  Words cannot begin to describe my emotions at her leaving the country without me.  I'll attempt to describe it next week though while she's gone anyway.

Will is thirteen as of Sunday.  So far, thirteen is good.  He was quite crabby yesterday morning and then apologized to me for being cranky.  REALLY!  He said, as he sat on the couch playing Xbox after I had just asked him what he wanted for breakfast and what his plans for the day were, "sorry Mom.  I didn't mean to be so grumpy."  Wow.  Thirteen is nice.

And so I am officially a mom of teenagers.  Now when people ask me, do you have children, I can say, "No, I have teenagers."