Farewell to Fall

My favorite season is ending. In other climes it may leave in a blaze of glory but I have come to love it's lingering, gentle departure from my southwest home. 

In my backyard

  

Variations on chiles

Variations on leaves in chairs 

  

Variations on dog in leaves

Flying Horses

Tricia, Moi, Janielle and Sylvia

Running a local 1/2 marathon sounded like a great idea, especially because the majority of the race would be in areas I frequently run in the Upper Valley. Other pluses: my running buds were all interested, no traveling would be involved, no change in elevation, and we would have the hometown crowd advantage. I really liked the idea of running the last mile on the race track as I just knew that would cause an adrenalin rush at the finish. I did not like the idea that our image would be shown on a mega screen but ignored that fact so I wouldn't talk myself out of signing up for the Flying Horse 1/2. 

The 8 am start time was later than I liked because warmer weather would slow me down. Not to worry, El Paso delivered the first cold day of the season, with a 44º starting temperature plus a gusty breeze. Brrrrrfect. 

After positioning ourselves on the track there was a peaceful and patriotic silence as we listened to "The Star Spangled Banner" trumpet solo while watching our flag waving in the breeze. That was followed by the traditional first call and the bell, and then we were off.

Sylvia and I knew that the young 'uns would leave us in the dust, but we were able to stay together and were keeping the pace we hoped to, right around a 10-minute mile almost to mile 7. This is when I usually find some extra energy and kick it up, but not this time. Right when I thought I was going to lengthen my stride I hit a wall. I made sure Sylvia knew that she shouldn't hang back with me, thinking for sure I would regain some energy and catch up. 

Not to be. My GuBrew didn't help. My peanut butter Gu didn't help. My mantras didn't help. I couldn't even get my brain to think of scripture mastery verses.

Mile after mile I struggled just to keep putting one foot in front of the other. This was a first, a very discouraging first time that I was unable to mentally work through the fatigue. I was mad at myself for not getting enough sleep during the week. I was mad at myself for not adding protein to the pasta I had for dinner the night before. I was mad at myself for not knowing what else to do but plod along. I was really mad at myself for giving up processed sugar all week and didn't even take a nibble of the triple chocolate cake or pumpkin Boston cream pie we had at the office the day before.

Just before mile 11 I did something I've never done. I walked. For about 45 seconds. And a little later I did it again. Still unbelievably fatigued I headed into the last mile before the track and then I was on the track, that l-o-n-g mile of dirt with people watching from the stands. How mortifying. I did my best to pick up my pace and look like I was having the time of my life. Into the final stretch I was passed by one or two, maybe three people. Hurrah for me, so generously letting them have a better time! I finished. When I saw the time - 2:25:59 I was surprised because I thought I had been much slower. But I was still 5 minutes, at least, off of what I felt would be a reasonable finish time, and almost 11 minutes off my goal. Ah well, the good, the bad and the ugly all rolled into one. 

Other than some achy calves and sore lower back for most of the rest of the day, and being slightly stiff and needing a nap on Sunday I don't feel any worse for the wear. Does that mean I didn't try hard enough? I keep second-guessing myself and landing back at knowing that I did give it all I had. I just need to use the experience to learn and grow, to be patient with myself. Saturday I was pretty sure I wouldn't want to do another 1/2 again. Sunday I was willing to consider it. Today I know I have to because I know I haven't run my best race yet.

And my running buds? They were AWESOME! Tricia ran a 2:09 (she thought it was brutal too, but she's an Arizona girl and didn't like the cold!); Janielle ran a 2:12, besting her Bear Lake time by 16 minutes! and Sylvia ran a 2:19 in her first 1/2!!! I'm so proud of all of them, and grateful for the friendship and love - and running - that we share.

Looking for my next 1/2 - open for suggestions!

November 2012 epiphany: I am now an absolute believer in the rule that you shouldn't try anything new on race day. The day before the race I bought a pretty snazzy pair of Zoot compression sleeves, hoping to cut down on the achy calves I have after most longer runs. They did the trick for recovery, but it took me over a month to figure out that they actually slow me down if I wear them when I run. Now I just wear them for 1/2 hour to 1 hour after each run, and my legs feel fresh from the start.

'Tis the Season

I think that I shall buy a ristra or two today

Simple Pleasures

A few things that have made this week sweet:

Reupholstered chairs

The bounty of Bountiful Baskets

Look at those lovely pears!

Final stages of a 6-month road construction project in our neighborhood

6 months - 1/2 mile just to get to the 1st street (and it's still a 2-lane road)

Dinner on the patio with special friends

Bittersweet because Vicky is moving :(

An inspiring devotional with Elder D. Todd Christofferson 

A happy husband when we have cold cereal for Sunday dinner

Birthday flowers that still look lovely

Another One Bites The Dust

Goodbye & good riddance September 17 deadline.

From the gang at JH

Jigsaw Puzzle

Can't help myself, I LOVE these photos Ayrel & Ben took at Antelope Canyon. I didn't steal all the pictures posted on their blog, just the ones that look like pieces to a giant jigsaw puzzle. And maybe a few more...

362 Days

It just dawned on me that when my next birthday rolls around I will be turning 60.

 

These are the things I am committing right now to do between now and then so that I can stay young (as promised in the book "1001 Ways To Stay Young"):

 

1. Spin until I fall over

2. Hang a hammock in my living room

3. Never admit I don't know how to use my i-pod

4. Paint the walls in my house pink to give my complexion a youthful glow

5. Switch my birthday to February 29

6. Call my friends "Grandma" (or "Grandpa")

7. Drink chocolate milk with a straw (and blow bubbles)

8. Write memos at work in invisible ink

9. Never complain about a drafty room

10. Quit pinching baby cheeks (it's a great way to be mistaken for a witch)

 

 

Plus, a few quotes that I will memorize:

"The only disability is a bad attitude,"
- Oscar Pistorias (paralympic runner)

  

"Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul,"
- Douglas MacArthur

 

"You can only be young once. But you can always be immature,"
- Dave Barry

 

 

I don't have any problem with the aging process. Well, except I really don't like gray hair, spider veins and age spots, but otherwise I like the getting older and wiser stuff. I like looking at my life and knowing it's been - and continues to be - nothing short of wonderful. I love the time family and friends take to remember my birthday, and the kind and funny greetings sent my way. I love the unexpected remembrances.

 

 

And of course, I love all the good food that came with my birthday this year:

 

BeeYouTeeFull cookies from my kids - so special that nobody at work would eat them...

...but they were willing to eat these yummies, also from my kiddos
 

Chocolate Mousse Cake!

When I arrived at work I found my entire desk covered with cookies, cards, cake and decorations. It was such a fun surprise, and even more fun to share it all with the great people I get to work with.

 

 

A dreamy dinner at Ardavino's - red snapper with the most lovely vegetables and orzo. Keven was quite happy I didn't bring my camera along; you will have to trust me that it was as yummy and as beautiful as you can imagine.

 

 

 

A perfect ending to a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of birthday!

 

 

And the very next day:

 

5:45 am - my first run as an older woman, and my running buddies didn't abandon me. Neither did my blue moon!

 

 

An Ode to the Preservation of the Written Word

Many times I've sat me down,

And oft have sweet refreshment found*

In reading of those days of old

From journals written and stories told:

The memory of a child's woe,

Perhaps a challenge with a foe;

Success in learning something new

That once had seemed too hard to do. 

A tender moment with a newborn child;

Perhaps a party that got too wild!

Piano concerts, spelling bees,

Lost back packs, scraped-up knees.

The first haircut, the first day of school,

The first time a perfect child breaks a rule.

The first campout, the first big date;

When you know they've found their soul mate.

The mundane moments of raising kids

In years to come will seem like bliss.

So take a clue from one who seldom did write:

You won't regret recording something tonight!

As I read from letters faithfully saved by my sweet mother-in-law, Hallie, I realized that some precious memories would have been lost to me if she hadn't saved my occasional letters to her. Since I've always been sporadic about keeping a regular jounal, the day-to-day happenings I wrote about in letters would have evaporated had she not saved them.

A few tidbits gleaned:

10 May 1983
Keven didn't mention that Joy treated us to Chinese food did he? He missed out because of meetings - the rest of us had a good time! The kids were kind of rowdy, but the management didn't kick us out, so maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Ayrel is really growing. She is getting tall and is taking on more of her own look. She's trying to scoot - not too effectively yet. When Mish walks by she'll grab hold and ends up with a fistfull of cat hair. She has a real thing for her dad. The other night I was rocking her by our bed. He fell asleep and missed all the cooing and singing she dedicated to him. It was a precious moment. This morning she sat in her high chair and sang to the sunshine. The other kids are totally infatuted with her. It's lovely.

Soren's goldfish died yesterday. He was such a sad little fellow. He made sure it was properly buried out under our new little Mexican elder tree. Sven was so sweet and offered to give Soren his own. Soren has decided to buy a new one instead.

Sonja and Brei are picnicking. They have packed a little lunch of toast, carrots, jicama and cracked nuts to eat out front. They are busy little ladies.

Thank you for the roller skates. Everyone is thrilled, and great efforts are being made to master the round, round wheels and preserve the sore, sore bottom ends. My bets have been placed on Sonja to come in 1st, although Sven is making great headway. Soren was in mourning yesterday and didn't spend as much time as the others.


6 May 1987
We hope you will enjoy these pictures - of course the children are much cuter than a picture could ever depict! They were all involved in a Primary Talent Show yesterday, fun for everyone. Soren played his fiddle; Sven was a comedian in a skit; Sonja and Brei did a folk dance; Ayrel and Tanja clapped wildly for everyone, kin or not.


3 March 1997
Ayrel and Brei traveled with the youth to Mesa for the ward temple trip. One bus was charterd to take 37 kids and 7 brave chaperons. The bus broke down on the way, and they limped into the truck stop on the Arizona border. They waited there 5+ hours for another bus to take them to Mesa; by then the temple should have been closed but they waited for our kids to come and do the work. It was a pretty special temple experience. They arrived home after 4am Sunday morning - it was interesting to me that the adults looked LOTS better at church than any of the kids!



More than once I have said that I wish I could have one day  a year with my children being little again, just to savor moments like these, but these little bits and pieces of the past are almost as good.

Thank you, Mom Jensen!

*Sorry Kelly J., I couldn't resist! In another post I will do justice to your classic ode.