friday quotation

"Only the curious have something to find..."

This Side, Nickel Creek

girlfriends

Guys, please don't take offense to this but I just have to take a moment and say, "Thank goodness for girlfriends!" I wish that I could find the speech that my 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Johnson, delivered at one point when we were in high school. (Note: it was an all girls' school so it was appropriate...although I remember thinking at the time that maybe she was just trying to make us feel better about not having boys around!) It was all about the value of female friends. She also talked about the virtues of marriage and all sorts of friendships and relationships. But I remember her saying that it would be your girlfriends who showed up when you found out you had cancer or were pregnant or had gotten engaged or had just had your heart broken or just needed someone to talk to. They will show up with food for you or your family when you need a meal. They will bring the ice cream or wine or pizza over when you need comfort food. And they will bring the champagne when it's time to celebrate. They will hold your hand when you're waiting for test results or when you're just plain scared. They will come and sit with you when a loved one is dying just so that you're not alone. They will not let you hide even when you want to...or at least not for very long. Plain and simple: they will just keep showing up. Even when know they don't know exactly what they can do for you. Because they know that sometimes you can't even begin to ask for what you need; but as soon as someone is there or someone calls or someone sends an email or a text, you find that having someone to go through whatever it is with you is just the thing you need. They know that hearing kind words from someone makes it all bearable. Or that even just being reminded that someone else is thinking about you softens the pain.
I'm not saying that guys aren't capable of this but as girls we just seem naturally wired this way! And, guys, I suspect it's the same for you - you need guy friends because you need friends who are wired like you are.
I've been especially blessed by wonderful girlfriends all of my life...from my days at camp as a child...through high school...into college...and now in my life beyond college. And just this week as I've watched friends go through tough times and how their girlfriends have rallied around them, I was reminded once again of the value of these friends. And I've been reminded of it personally, too, when I've found myself in old patterns that I need to bust out of or at least take a good hard look at. My girlfriends are great to bounce ideas off of, remind me of my strengths, and give me those pep talks when I need them...or set me straight and tell me that I'm acting or thinking crazy! What a lucky, lucky girl I am...to have SO many friends...girls and guys...but my shout out today is for the girls.

no better way to spend a day...

...than interviewing Gran. What a trooper she was. Two attempts with a recorder that I just couldn't ever quite figure out - was it recording or not recording?! One iPhone rescue and 3 hours later her wonderfully long life of 92 years has finally been put on tape (or iPhone voice memo). I feel so honored that she let me spend the day doing this. I know it wasn't easy for her. I know she really didn't want to do it. I know that it was actually downright exhausting for her. But these are precious stories and memories that she shared. And I have a new precious memory of this day spent with her. Laughs. Tears. Uncertainty over dates and sequences of events. Sweet moments. They were all part of the day. Lucky, lucky me. (Now to hope that the last 30 minutes actually did record...I'm losing faith as my iPhone churns away but isn't letting me listen to that segment. Poor Gran will get an early morning wake-up call from me if this wasn't successful so that we can finish this deal. She can curse me when I leave to return to Austin!)

Gran time...

...is just always good. Talking on her porch. Looking through old pictures and journals with her. And finally, surprising her with her birthday present - a book of my blog (as I said, a gift only a grandmother could love). Her reaction was priceless. She got teary-eyed reading the inscription to her. Which in turn made me teary-eyed. Of course, all through big smiles.
But I think the cutest thing was when I said I was going to go out for a while so that she could nap (she doesn't really nap if we're around because she wants to be visiting with us) and I picked up her book to move it. She said, "That's mine, don't take it anywhere." Alrighty then. And she took it off to her bed with her. My fear...she's reading it instead of napping!
And an afternoon rain shower just solved my run or rest dilemma...a 3:45 a.m. wake-up call comes back to haunt you at the end of the day. And an afternoon thunderstorm makes my decision rather easy. Not that I don't love running in the rain...but...I think I'd rather nap in the rain today.

yoga moment

I'm in week two of my Monday morning yoga practice. Different teacher. Slightly different classmates (although 2 of the 4 were the same...and still a very small group). Differently poses - the dreaded frog which only reminds me of how tight my hips are. And our teacher today suggested that we carry our past in our hips. Not sure exactly what that means for me?! Maybe in the past I wasn't very flexible? Or I have so very much (in my) past that my hips are packed tight? Who knows. All I know is that pigeon and frog do me in every time!
Anyway, I'm committed to making this part of what I do. Part of my weekly training schedule - but it will be as much a training of the heart and mind and spirit as it is of the body.
Emotional training bit from today: focusing on the present.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. There are many wonderful places to visit, many experiences to have, many people to meet and lessons along the way. But you aren't there yet. Stay in this moment. It contains the experience you need to have. This moment contains your happiness. Living this moment, being fully present for it, is the way to get to the next experience, the next person, the next emotion, the next adventure. Cherish the moment. Feel all there is to feel. See all there is to see. Learn the lessons from today, and you will be prepared for the adventures and joys of tomorrow. Be here now. This is the only place you need to be. And from this place, all things are possible."

This is really tough for me. I like to have a plan. I like to know what's ahead. I like to feel like I'm in control. And, well, sometimes (or most of the time if I'm being really honest), I'm just not. And I need to be okay with that. And in the yoga studio this morning it felt okay to just be present. To not be thinking about future - even the most immediate moments when I left the studio. Project: to carry that truly being in the present feeling with me into more parts of my life. And let go. And let life happen. Not out of complacency but out of a deep belief that here and now is the only place I need to be. And that from there, anything is possible.

confession

I cheated on Sno Beach today. And I feel a little bad. Amy and I are super loyal to Sno Beach and I actually couldn't have imagined going to another snow cone place in Austin, but we decided we had to try Casey's New Orleans Snowballs today. I can blame my New Orleans roots, but I also have to say that I was hoping they would have spearmint. And they did. And I must say that it was FABULOUS. Sno Beach is really missing out here with this flavor or anything like it. This shortcoming won't make me turn my back on Sno Beach (I'm not like that!), but when I'm hankering for a spearmint snow cone it is going to have to come from Casey's. Sno Beach has left me with no other option! Or maybe I'll get my fill of spearmint snow cones when I'm in New Orleans this week. Unlikely!
P.S. This snow cone came after a wonderful but long morning of volunteering at Jack's Generic where T3 was all over the place and SO many first-time triathletes were flooding the course. It was exciting. I love being part of that whole scene - I love being able to be out there cheering people on or helping people get to wherever they are supposed to be or doing whatever is needed. It's a blast and incredibly rewarding. Nice work High Five Events and everyone involved in Jack's Generic...another day you should feel proud of! And congrats to all of the athletes...you were amazing as well.

like grandmother, like granddaughter

I got a funny email from Gran the other day that was titled, "Too much" and it was all about how she'd tried to fit too much in one day last week. I emailed her today to confess the same thing. All good things but a ride, a tri meeting, trying to see Sara and Will, some laundry, some housekeeping, and a movie meant that today just flew by. Blink. It was good though. No one thing that I wouldn't do over again if I had the chance. But, phew, my eyes were a little larger than my stomach so to speak. Not sure I'll ever learn this lesson!