My friend Lyndsay

My whole body hurts. I feel like I've just done a major workout! And yet, I haven't worked out in days.

Today, we attended my friend Lyndsay's funeral. She was 47 years old.

Eleven weeks ago she went to Patient First because she "didn't feel well". Super Bowl Sunday, I had to hold her wine glass because the IV they inserted had "messed up" the nerves in her hand. What was really going on, was she had Melanoma. There were tumors in her brain that interfered with her motor skills. There were tumors in her lungs, her intestines, and finally the cancer reached her liver and there was nothing left to do, but watch her beautiful smile fade away.

She was so generous that she invited her family and friends to join her for a final communion in her hospital room. That was her last day of conciousness. It was one of the most lovely things I've experienced. To have the loveliness to share your final moments with your friends. To say special words to each person. She looked from person to person, holding eye contact for several seconds, I felt her "say" I Love You. And I was able to "say" I love you, back.

Today was a celebration of a life well lived. A life that touched many with her beautiful spirit, her spacey way, happy, laughing, concerned for her daughters, in love with her husband.

At her funeral, 1 Corinthians 13 was read. You know the one..."Love is patient, Love is kind, Love is not boastful..." What a beautiful passage to read to describe her.

I feel so sad that I will no longer be able to share swim meets, football tailgates, Bizarre Bazaar, Redneck Bowling and so much more with her. I'm sad looking at her husband and daughters and knowing the sadness and anger they will face at the loss of a great wife and mother. My whole body hurts with sadness.

I hope to incorporate a little bit of her loving way into my life, that I may show joy and happiness and love when dealing with strangers and especially my family and friends.

And I hope to take a little bit of her with me to White Lake on May 3. She was so proud that I was training for my first Half Ironman, that I hope to honor her in my efforts there.

Good To Be Back

After being "off" after oral surgery for 1 1/2 weeks it's great to be back in routine. I'm 2 months out from my "A" race - White Lake Half Ironman. Just writiting that gives me butterflies!

I ran for the 1st time on Saturday - 4 miles. I was supposed to run 12, but since I couldn't eat, I gave myself a break. (And that was really hard!) Anytime I am unable to complete a scheduled workout, I feel like such a failure!

Yesterday, I had my lesson with Karen Holloway and the good news is, she said I didn't regress. The bad news is, I've got to get in the water more often. So that's the goal!

The Shamrock Half is in a 1 1/2 weeks, so we'll see how that goes. Worried mostly about the wind and the distance. The Va Beach weather can be soooo unpredictable.

Looking forward to a night out with the hubby in the areas latest bar. Hope it's all they say it is!

Swim Meet

I was at my sons' swim meet yesterday. What interesting things you hear when you're sitting alone, listening to parents talk with their children.

Let us be kind and critical of our children.

A little girl just finished her race. When she returned to her obese dad, he said "You lost time. You were too far away on your flip turn." She said, in a perky voice, "I know" and walked away.

When I finish a race, I know, whether I've done my best, if there are things I could improve upon. I have the ability to self-critique. But, it is wonderful to hve my family waiting for me at the finish line, to see their smiles, and to hear how proud they are of me.

I cannot imagine what it would feel like to come in from a race, see a frowning husband saying, "You should have shortened your stride. You should have taken advantage of that hill." I would feel so low.

I'm not suggesting we spew falsities at our children about how wonderfully they swam if that is not the case. But I can assure you, the kind of criticism I heard from that dad, did not help that girl.

Let the coaches coach and the parent's be a support and encouragement. The coach's comment will surely be more constructive and helpful to the child!

Masters

How dare I even attend a swim session with such an elite title?! And yet I have been. For the past two weeks, I've been attending Masters swim sessions twice a week. I met Karen Holloway, a swim teaching legend. I've met funny, welcoming "Ed", a kindred spirit in the slow lane. I've met Brooke.

Actually, Brooke was the first person I met. She's everybody's friend. She allowed me to walk into my first session without feeling like I didn't know anyone, (which I didn't!). She introduced me to the coach, which changes with each session. She is a breath of fresh air at 5:50 a.m.!

I started swim lessons with Karen Holloway. She assures me that I will be able to swim the 1.2 miles required for they White Lake swim. I have faith in her ability to assess my inablility and KNOW that if she says I can do it...I can do it!

I am an Athlete

Last night my littlest boy wanted to play the game of Life. I didn't really want to play. I had a sinus headache, I just wanted to lay back in my pajamas and chill. But he was so sweet in how he asked, (multiple times), that I just had to say "yes"!

After choosing to go to "college" and taking out $40K worth of loans I got to choose a career and salary. I had three career choices, teacher, banker, or Athlete. I chose Athlete. I had just run an 8K the day before. I had surpassed my goal of 9 1/ 2 minute miles. And I had just spent the morning "brunching" with my Tri Girls. What the heck? I was going to be an Athlete! So, I told Little Bear and do you know what that little fellow said..."Like you already are!" My God, I was proud!

I've never thought of myself as an athlete. I'm just someone who dabbles in fitness and has recently become a triathlete, (a SPRINT triathlete, but a triathlete none the less!).

So there it is, from the mouth of my youngest boy...I am an Athlete!