I'm staying with Jen and Dave these days to help take care of Zachary while his current babysitter is unavailable. I love these days with the kids. I haven't been here for close to a year, although I've seen them a couple of times in that period. This gives me a chance to reconnect with Nicholas and get to know Zachary a little better. He is two. He is self-absorbed. He is determined. He rules the world. As far as he is concerned, It's All About ME!!!
Zachary's idea of getting to know you is to give you a big hug-- a wonderful hug, I might add-- and to make sure you know EXACTLY what he wants and what he doesn't want. That's a tall order for an itty bitty thing that has a working vocabulary of about 5 words.
Mama, DADA, Out, UH-UH!, The lesser--Uh Huh!, EW and ME! or MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! depending on the urgency. There are other words, but these are the most important as far as he is concerned.
And yet we always know just what it is he wants.
Most of those are self explanatory. EW is very descriptive and covers everything from sticky hands, to a stinky diaper. EW with a screech probably means "Get that drop of syrup off of my bib this second!" EW means "Clean it Up!"
Then there are hand signals. An outstretched hand opening and closing means "I want to show you something". Wise people will go look. It could be harmless... "I want Elmo out of my bed." Or it could mean "Look! There's a boat floating in the toilet!", OR, "I just helped myself to some vita gummies on the counter." He is a constant reminder that 2 year-olds are fun-loving (note: boat) and resourceful (note: vita gummies).
My favorite hand signal is the one that comes at the end of dinner... or after he eats 3 bites and hands his plate back. "Dada!," he says. When Dave looks at him he holds his arms out in front of him, makes a tight fist with his hands, and his whole upper body tenses and shakes---his sign for Cold--or in this case, ICE CREAM! His light blue eyes positively light up at the thought! If dada ignores him he tries it again, a little louder. By the 3rd time his eyes have a fierce look, the shaking has taken on earthquake proportions, and he sends as much energy as he can muster into that look so there can be no mistaking what he wants!
Today we have heard a lot of UH-UH, and MEEEEEEE!!! Today he is ornery and full of himself. Whatever I suggest, (or need to do) he's got other plans.
"Zachary, it's time for lunch." "Uh-Uh"
I try again, "Yep, It's time for lunch!," I say enthusiastically. "UH-UH!" he answers with more defiance.
"Do you want a hot dog, or Peanut butter?" UH-UH!
I change tactics.
"Then it's time for a nap." UH-UH!!
Lunch or Nap? UH-UH!!! Each response is louder and higher in pitch.
Finally we settle on lunch.
"Let's get in your chair." MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! he says racing to the chair.
I slowly back away, lest it escalates again, and let him climb in his chair by himself.
I heat his hot dog in the microwave and transfer it to his plastic plate.
UH-UH!!!!! he says pushing away his plate.
This, I have learned, doesn't mean he doesn't want it. It means if I fixed it on one plate, that's the plate HE expects to be served on. I put the hot dog back on the paper plate and give that to him.
I am learning. There are tricks to feeding him. There are ways to cajole him into doing what you want. And there are times when you will never win, until you pull out the Parent Card: "When all else fails, remember YOU ARE BIGGER!" As parents, next to patience, it is the best card we have.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
A Gradual Awakening
When March and April roll around I eagerly begin searching for the first signs of spring. When I walk, I check the trees to see if the branch tips have begun to turn red. I search peoples' flower beds for signs of a crocus. I'm always in a hurry, and Spring always seems to drag its feet. This has been a very snowy winter and people everywhere are just ready for Spring! Me included!
March 20, The First Day of Spring came. It was cold, gray and there were snow flurries in the air.
This is the time when robins appear looking for worms, and make all of us think '"It won't be long now!" Then you wake up one morning to several inches of snow on the ground and you hear a loud healthy scream coming from somewhere. It turns out it's you, trying to vent some of that frustration.
One day as I was driving through the snow flurries I remembered the promise I made myself at the beginning of the year. "In all things, give thanks.", the Bible verse I was going to try to live out. OK, I can be thankful it's just flurries, and not a blizzard. Fair enough. I can be thankful it's..... hmmm....think some more.....it was warmer yesterday and it will be warmer tomorrow. It's a thought, but truthfully, I was still not feeling all that grateful.
And then I really started to think about what Spring is all about. Plant life has been dormant all winter, and March is its time to slowly wake up. Thinking back I remembered winter a year ago. We had a mild December. My daffodils were 4 inches high before Christmas, only to be crushed again and again by the late freezing temperatures and snow. They couldn't figure out when it was safe to come up.
This winter all of my bulbs have stayed tucked deep in the ground until now, when they are hesitantly peeking their heads out to see if it's safe. The trees are beginning to test the air as well and are slowly turning red. How much better is that gradual awakening than the mild spring, followed by a late snow that kills off the new blossoms.
I thought a little more about gradual awakenings and realized that's how we all are. There is the image of a dad, sound asleep on the couch, and his 4 year-old son comes in and yells in his ear. Dad jumps, sits up, his heart pounding in his chest. How much nicer, and better, is it to lie in bed in the morning and gradually come-to as you wake up at your own pace.
Even patients, who have been put in a sleep-induced coma for their healing, are brought out of it gradually.
Waking up slow. It has a nice feel to it. As much as I would love to wake up tomorrow and see a forest full of leaf covered trees, it would be hard to appreciate the daffodils if they were surrounded by roses and petunias. It's the fact that the daffodils and tulips are the only show, that allows us to see them as the star of the show. And speaking of the Only star in the show? I love Forsythia. Not everyone likes this shrub that can grow wild and bushy. It's not all that pretty in the summer when it's covered in little green leaves. It doesn't have much character then. But in late March or early April it is the only bush blooming and that gorgeous, bright, sunny yellow calls to you from hillsides and roadsides. It heralds Spring.
In Florida, winter is a muted season. It can get cold--below freezing in fact, but it doesn't last long. In February, spring arrives quick and vibrant. Azaleas bloom along with flowering cherry and a few dogwoods. In 3 weeks it's over and summer is knocking on the door. When I lived there I liked it that way. But I missed daffodils. When I moved back north, the Pear, Eastern Redbud and dogwood in Spring reminded me of all I had missed.
Ok. I still wish Spring would move a little faster, but when I compare it to places where it does, I can appreciate a gradual awakening that comes with Spring. While I'm waiting, you'll excuse me if I roll over in the morning and snuggle back into my pillow. If the trees can take their time waking up, then so can I!
March 20, The First Day of Spring came. It was cold, gray and there were snow flurries in the air.
This is the time when robins appear looking for worms, and make all of us think '"It won't be long now!" Then you wake up one morning to several inches of snow on the ground and you hear a loud healthy scream coming from somewhere. It turns out it's you, trying to vent some of that frustration.
One day as I was driving through the snow flurries I remembered the promise I made myself at the beginning of the year. "In all things, give thanks.", the Bible verse I was going to try to live out. OK, I can be thankful it's just flurries, and not a blizzard. Fair enough. I can be thankful it's..... hmmm....think some more.....it was warmer yesterday and it will be warmer tomorrow. It's a thought, but truthfully, I was still not feeling all that grateful.
And then I really started to think about what Spring is all about. Plant life has been dormant all winter, and March is its time to slowly wake up. Thinking back I remembered winter a year ago. We had a mild December. My daffodils were 4 inches high before Christmas, only to be crushed again and again by the late freezing temperatures and snow. They couldn't figure out when it was safe to come up.
This winter all of my bulbs have stayed tucked deep in the ground until now, when they are hesitantly peeking their heads out to see if it's safe. The trees are beginning to test the air as well and are slowly turning red. How much better is that gradual awakening than the mild spring, followed by a late snow that kills off the new blossoms.
I thought a little more about gradual awakenings and realized that's how we all are. There is the image of a dad, sound asleep on the couch, and his 4 year-old son comes in and yells in his ear. Dad jumps, sits up, his heart pounding in his chest. How much nicer, and better, is it to lie in bed in the morning and gradually come-to as you wake up at your own pace.
Even patients, who have been put in a sleep-induced coma for their healing, are brought out of it gradually.
Waking up slow. It has a nice feel to it. As much as I would love to wake up tomorrow and see a forest full of leaf covered trees, it would be hard to appreciate the daffodils if they were surrounded by roses and petunias. It's the fact that the daffodils and tulips are the only show, that allows us to see them as the star of the show. And speaking of the Only star in the show? I love Forsythia. Not everyone likes this shrub that can grow wild and bushy. It's not all that pretty in the summer when it's covered in little green leaves. It doesn't have much character then. But in late March or early April it is the only bush blooming and that gorgeous, bright, sunny yellow calls to you from hillsides and roadsides. It heralds Spring.
In Florida, winter is a muted season. It can get cold--below freezing in fact, but it doesn't last long. In February, spring arrives quick and vibrant. Azaleas bloom along with flowering cherry and a few dogwoods. In 3 weeks it's over and summer is knocking on the door. When I lived there I liked it that way. But I missed daffodils. When I moved back north, the Pear, Eastern Redbud and dogwood in Spring reminded me of all I had missed.
Ok. I still wish Spring would move a little faster, but when I compare it to places where it does, I can appreciate a gradual awakening that comes with Spring. While I'm waiting, you'll excuse me if I roll over in the morning and snuggle back into my pillow. If the trees can take their time waking up, then so can I!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Challenges and Conquests
February came and went and we are almost finished with March. Yea!! Most winters I get to spend a few weeks in Florida, but this year we made the Great Trek at Christmas to both Iowa AND Florida. And we are moving soon to Georgia, so winter travel just wasn't in the cards. Even with trips to the land of the sun, usually by now I am deep into a jug of OJ and Vodka. This winter, one would think I would be well into my second jug. It's been long, cold, and snowy. One could get a little tired of it all.
In search of endorphins, I take Yoga at a gym. It's a great class, with a great group of women. This winter the gym did its best to give us another reason to feel sorry for ourselves. The Plank Challenge! What is the Plank Challenge? To see how long we could hold ourselves in Plank position, of course!
Every class from Yoga to Zumba began with us holding the plank position for as long as the instructor challenged us...or as long as we could make it. It started at 20 seconds at the beginning of February. At the end of the month we were challenged to last for 3 minutes! I decided early on if I could make it for one minute I'd be happy!
There was another side to February that was more fun. I signed up for 2 months of voice lessons to evaluate my voice and learn better breathing techniques. As a teen I sang soprano. After I got married and had kids, I didn't sing in a choir for years. By the time I went back to choir, the high notes were gone, so I started singing alto.
I learned a few things at those lessons. First, I discovered I should be a soprano, but I really need to stretch my voice. I also discovered that if you want to prove to yourself that you really can't sing, try voice lessons! I can carry a tune pretty well, and put me in a choir surrounded by other average voices like mine and it sounds lovely. Put me in a room by myself with just a piano to keep me on pitch and I sound remarkably like those poor kids trying out for American Idol whose parents assured them they were the next Mariah Carey.... but werent'! The ones that made Simon, Paula AND Randy wince.
So when February was over how did I do? All I can say is I amazed myself!
As for the Plank Challenge, I hung in for 3 minutes and 20 seconds! I was so proud of myself!
My voice lessons are just finishing up, but I started with a range of about an octave and a half, and ended with a range of two and a half octaves. I hit high notes I hadn't heard in years. It doesn't sound pretty yet...more like a bad wheel bearing, but in time it will. It just takes daily practice. Just like holding plank in yoga.
I will never be a Yoga instructor, or sing solos in a choir, but I stretched myself in ways I haven't done for a long time. It was probably healthier than fighting through February with the jug of OJ and Vodka. One thing is certain. If you want to feel good, endorphins only go so far. Conquering a challenge is a feeling that lasts a lot longer.
In search of endorphins, I take Yoga at a gym. It's a great class, with a great group of women. This winter the gym did its best to give us another reason to feel sorry for ourselves. The Plank Challenge! What is the Plank Challenge? To see how long we could hold ourselves in Plank position, of course!
Every class from Yoga to Zumba began with us holding the plank position for as long as the instructor challenged us...or as long as we could make it. It started at 20 seconds at the beginning of February. At the end of the month we were challenged to last for 3 minutes! I decided early on if I could make it for one minute I'd be happy!
There was another side to February that was more fun. I signed up for 2 months of voice lessons to evaluate my voice and learn better breathing techniques. As a teen I sang soprano. After I got married and had kids, I didn't sing in a choir for years. By the time I went back to choir, the high notes were gone, so I started singing alto.
I learned a few things at those lessons. First, I discovered I should be a soprano, but I really need to stretch my voice. I also discovered that if you want to prove to yourself that you really can't sing, try voice lessons! I can carry a tune pretty well, and put me in a choir surrounded by other average voices like mine and it sounds lovely. Put me in a room by myself with just a piano to keep me on pitch and I sound remarkably like those poor kids trying out for American Idol whose parents assured them they were the next Mariah Carey.... but werent'! The ones that made Simon, Paula AND Randy wince.
So when February was over how did I do? All I can say is I amazed myself!
As for the Plank Challenge, I hung in for 3 minutes and 20 seconds! I was so proud of myself!
My voice lessons are just finishing up, but I started with a range of about an octave and a half, and ended with a range of two and a half octaves. I hit high notes I hadn't heard in years. It doesn't sound pretty yet...more like a bad wheel bearing, but in time it will. It just takes daily practice. Just like holding plank in yoga.
I will never be a Yoga instructor, or sing solos in a choir, but I stretched myself in ways I haven't done for a long time. It was probably healthier than fighting through February with the jug of OJ and Vodka. One thing is certain. If you want to feel good, endorphins only go so far. Conquering a challenge is a feeling that lasts a lot longer.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Making God Laugh
There is a line that says "If you want to see God laugh, just tell him your plans."
I believe it's true. I can document some of the chuckles I have given God over the years.
In my early years I followed what came naturally. I graduated from school, went to college, met the love of my life, got married, had kids....I followed the pattern. Then Larry decided he wanted to change jobs. He got a new job. He wanted to move south. I wanted to move north. I thought New England was the perfect place to be. (Of course, the only time I had ever spent in New England had been in the summer. It was beautiful. It was friendly. It was fun. Let's go there!!) Or Colorado. (It has mountains. It is beautiful. Let's go there!) Larry checked the statistics for salesmen in fishing and hunting. He was looking around. I thought to myself, PLEASE, NOT the SOUTH!!!! So he picked Florida. Ok, Technically, Florida is just a northern state that was placed south of Georgia, so maybe God was just looking for a giggle, not a real laugh.
7 years later:
I have finally adjusted to living in Florida. I've decided it's ok if I stay here. It took awhile, I know. I was a reluctant transplant. For the first time since we've moved here I've made plans for the fall. I will be my daughter's Girl Scout leader. The phone rings..... within hours I've discovered we are moving to Ft. Lauderdale. There are only 2 places in the U.S. I don't want to live. California and Miami. God apparently needs a pick-me-up. Time for a chuckle. Send her to Ft. Lauderdale. Her husband can work in Miami.
After 4 years of penance I am returned to that place I didn't want to be in the first place, Tampa. And I am THRILLED!!!!! I can not tell you how happy I am to be back there. Ironic isn't it? God has a great sense of humor.
Fast forward several years. My oldest daughter is approaching marriage. No proposal yet, but could be soon. I look at the church where we've been a member for years. These people have been a part of her life. I can see it. The pastor that will marry her, the organist that will play at the service. The couple in our church that can sing the solos at her service. I can see it all coming to fruition.....
There is not a happy ending here. Let's just say it never happened. 1) the pastor retired. 2) the organist and one of the soloists had an affair. 3) Fortunately, my daughter had her own plans and her own church so she had her own people lined up. I suspect God wasn't laughing. Perhaps there was a trickle of a tear. But there was a happy wedding, even if it wasn't what I had seen. And He was smiling.
2005--I can see the future. Although Larry and I moved away from our extended families, I have a great chance of having my kids around me in the future. Jen and Dave are in Orlando, with strong ties to the area. We have been in Florida for 25 years. Janice has proclaimed that she doesn't want to move from Florida. (HA)! I'm feeling good. I never see it coming.
Jen starts the dominoes. She and her husband are looking at teaching positions in Charlotte, NC. I'm ok with that. A couple of months later, Janice announces she has been on eHarmony.com and met a guy named Mike who lives in Iowa. IOWA??????? (I can't tell you how long it took me to wrap my head around that!) Larry completes the Trifecta. His job is eliminated. He starts a nation-wide search. I can see all my plans collapsing around my head.
God must have needed a real belly laugh with this one. Jen stayed in Florida. Janice married and moved to Iowa, and we moved to PA. What happened to my vision of a family close by in Florida? (Author's note: I've been to Iowa many times now, and I really like it there. More importantly, so does Janice!)
What prompted this post? Why am I talking about all this history, now? The weather.
We, by that I mean most of the east, are having a crazy winter. Super cold is one part of it, but most areas are experiencing very high snowfalls. Recently, I was clearing snow for the 3rd day in a row. After a while it gets boring. And annoying. I get up in the morning and then try to decide if I need to shovel or get the snowblower out now, or later because it's still coming down.
As I was clearing it, I thought to myself, "It might be cold in Georgia but I won't be doing this!"
And the next morning I heard the weather report:" Extreme cold in the south and record snowfalls" for an area without snow removal equipment.
And I thought to myself, "REALLY GOD? Are you that bored? Are you laughing with me or AT ME????"
God has probably laughed at me more than this, but sometimes I'm too blind to see. All I know is that deciding I know my future is futile. But I'm sure I'll keep doing it. Someone has to bring a chuckle into His life.
I believe it's true. I can document some of the chuckles I have given God over the years.
In my early years I followed what came naturally. I graduated from school, went to college, met the love of my life, got married, had kids....I followed the pattern. Then Larry decided he wanted to change jobs. He got a new job. He wanted to move south. I wanted to move north. I thought New England was the perfect place to be. (Of course, the only time I had ever spent in New England had been in the summer. It was beautiful. It was friendly. It was fun. Let's go there!!) Or Colorado. (It has mountains. It is beautiful. Let's go there!) Larry checked the statistics for salesmen in fishing and hunting. He was looking around. I thought to myself, PLEASE, NOT the SOUTH!!!! So he picked Florida. Ok, Technically, Florida is just a northern state that was placed south of Georgia, so maybe God was just looking for a giggle, not a real laugh.
7 years later:
I have finally adjusted to living in Florida. I've decided it's ok if I stay here. It took awhile, I know. I was a reluctant transplant. For the first time since we've moved here I've made plans for the fall. I will be my daughter's Girl Scout leader. The phone rings..... within hours I've discovered we are moving to Ft. Lauderdale. There are only 2 places in the U.S. I don't want to live. California and Miami. God apparently needs a pick-me-up. Time for a chuckle. Send her to Ft. Lauderdale. Her husband can work in Miami.
After 4 years of penance I am returned to that place I didn't want to be in the first place, Tampa. And I am THRILLED!!!!! I can not tell you how happy I am to be back there. Ironic isn't it? God has a great sense of humor.
Fast forward several years. My oldest daughter is approaching marriage. No proposal yet, but could be soon. I look at the church where we've been a member for years. These people have been a part of her life. I can see it. The pastor that will marry her, the organist that will play at the service. The couple in our church that can sing the solos at her service. I can see it all coming to fruition.....
There is not a happy ending here. Let's just say it never happened. 1) the pastor retired. 2) the organist and one of the soloists had an affair. 3) Fortunately, my daughter had her own plans and her own church so she had her own people lined up. I suspect God wasn't laughing. Perhaps there was a trickle of a tear. But there was a happy wedding, even if it wasn't what I had seen. And He was smiling.
2005--I can see the future. Although Larry and I moved away from our extended families, I have a great chance of having my kids around me in the future. Jen and Dave are in Orlando, with strong ties to the area. We have been in Florida for 25 years. Janice has proclaimed that she doesn't want to move from Florida. (HA)! I'm feeling good. I never see it coming.
Jen starts the dominoes. She and her husband are looking at teaching positions in Charlotte, NC. I'm ok with that. A couple of months later, Janice announces she has been on eHarmony.com and met a guy named Mike who lives in Iowa. IOWA??????? (I can't tell you how long it took me to wrap my head around that!) Larry completes the Trifecta. His job is eliminated. He starts a nation-wide search. I can see all my plans collapsing around my head.
God must have needed a real belly laugh with this one. Jen stayed in Florida. Janice married and moved to Iowa, and we moved to PA. What happened to my vision of a family close by in Florida? (Author's note: I've been to Iowa many times now, and I really like it there. More importantly, so does Janice!)
What prompted this post? Why am I talking about all this history, now? The weather.
We, by that I mean most of the east, are having a crazy winter. Super cold is one part of it, but most areas are experiencing very high snowfalls. Recently, I was clearing snow for the 3rd day in a row. After a while it gets boring. And annoying. I get up in the morning and then try to decide if I need to shovel or get the snowblower out now, or later because it's still coming down.
As I was clearing it, I thought to myself, "It might be cold in Georgia but I won't be doing this!"
And the next morning I heard the weather report:" Extreme cold in the south and record snowfalls" for an area without snow removal equipment.
And I thought to myself, "REALLY GOD? Are you that bored? Are you laughing with me or AT ME????"
God has probably laughed at me more than this, but sometimes I'm too blind to see. All I know is that deciding I know my future is futile. But I'm sure I'll keep doing it. Someone has to bring a chuckle into His life.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Olympic Inspiration Part 2
The Olympics have come to an end and I have regained a portion of my life. I reclaimed my afternoons and I'm back to getting to bed before midnight, but it was fun while it lasted.
Who inspired me this year? An Olympics or two ago, (1996 actually) there was a tiny little thing that bounced off a Vault in gymnastics and landed on 2 legs and immediately, And I Mean IMMEDIATELY pulled her left leg up, because it was hurt. Keri Strug didn't hurt her leg on that landing. She hurt it in the preceding vault. But she went for it anyway. Common sense would have said, being able to walk for the rest of your life is more important than getting a great score right now. But athletes don't always recognize Common Sense rules. Their goals are so integrated into their being they can push through situations that would flatten most of us.
This year, I watched Figure Skater Jeremy Abbott hit the ice. Literally. Jeremy launched into some kind of spin/jump, but when he landed it wasn't on his feet. He hit the ice, and fell hard on his hip and then slid HARD into a wall. He lay prone for several seconds. (Just seconds? Felt like forever!) Finally he stood, rubbed his hip, winced in pain and headed for the judges station to withdraw from the competition. Then the fans started applauding and cheering.
I've been to enough sporting events to know when the fans applaud you standing up, they aren't saying GO ON!~ YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!. They are just glad you aren't permanently injured. But that's not how Jeremy saw it.
Unable to let the fans down he went on to a truly inspirational program. He hit every jump. As far as I was concerned, he nailed EVERY move and was inspirational! I have a little bit of professional support here. The announcers were as amazed as I was.
That same night Evgeni Plushenko was also inspirational to me, but in a totally different way. Knowing when to walk takes just as much courage as getting back on the horse. Here was a national hero. He knew what was expected of him. We want our heroes to succeed. They EXPECT them to succeed. Evgeni knew he couldn't perform and would either embarrass his country or hurt himself. Either way, he knew it was time to walk, not skate. It was a sad moment, especially for all of his Russian fans. But I was proud of him. It was a really difficult decision.
Then there was skiing. Lots of skiing. I'm not familiar enough with the different events to keep them all straight, but there was one that was memorable. In one event 5 men skiied downhill. Only the first 3 would qualify for the finals. A skier at the back of the pack fell. No way would he qualify,-- but he didn't give up. He got up and continued on to sure failure. Then the skier in 3rd place lost his balance and fell into the one in 2nd place. AHA! Suddenly, what looked like sure failure for one skier was sudden success. Not Giving Up. That's a trait among competitors.
That's how I saw the race. Apparently, Kelly Ripa saw it the same way I did. Micheal Strahan however, saw it differently. He barely noticed the one that fell and got up. Instead, he focused on the two that fell. He said if he had worked that hard to get to the Olympics and someone took him out of a race, he'd be pretty mad. I bet most guys were thinking the same thing. I wonder if that's a male vs. female attitude? Or is there something else that makes us look at the same thing differently?
In the end, for me, the Olympics are a series of stories of people; successes, failures, miracle wins and unexpected loss. I rarely remember who won which Gold, or which country has the most medals. But while the games are going on, I'm hooked. And when they are over, it is the stories that stay with me.
Who inspired me this year? An Olympics or two ago, (1996 actually) there was a tiny little thing that bounced off a Vault in gymnastics and landed on 2 legs and immediately, And I Mean IMMEDIATELY pulled her left leg up, because it was hurt. Keri Strug didn't hurt her leg on that landing. She hurt it in the preceding vault. But she went for it anyway. Common sense would have said, being able to walk for the rest of your life is more important than getting a great score right now. But athletes don't always recognize Common Sense rules. Their goals are so integrated into their being they can push through situations that would flatten most of us.
This year, I watched Figure Skater Jeremy Abbott hit the ice. Literally. Jeremy launched into some kind of spin/jump, but when he landed it wasn't on his feet. He hit the ice, and fell hard on his hip and then slid HARD into a wall. He lay prone for several seconds. (Just seconds? Felt like forever!) Finally he stood, rubbed his hip, winced in pain and headed for the judges station to withdraw from the competition. Then the fans started applauding and cheering.
I've been to enough sporting events to know when the fans applaud you standing up, they aren't saying GO ON!~ YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!. They are just glad you aren't permanently injured. But that's not how Jeremy saw it.
Unable to let the fans down he went on to a truly inspirational program. He hit every jump. As far as I was concerned, he nailed EVERY move and was inspirational! I have a little bit of professional support here. The announcers were as amazed as I was.
That same night Evgeni Plushenko was also inspirational to me, but in a totally different way. Knowing when to walk takes just as much courage as getting back on the horse. Here was a national hero. He knew what was expected of him. We want our heroes to succeed. They EXPECT them to succeed. Evgeni knew he couldn't perform and would either embarrass his country or hurt himself. Either way, he knew it was time to walk, not skate. It was a sad moment, especially for all of his Russian fans. But I was proud of him. It was a really difficult decision.
Then there was skiing. Lots of skiing. I'm not familiar enough with the different events to keep them all straight, but there was one that was memorable. In one event 5 men skiied downhill. Only the first 3 would qualify for the finals. A skier at the back of the pack fell. No way would he qualify,-- but he didn't give up. He got up and continued on to sure failure. Then the skier in 3rd place lost his balance and fell into the one in 2nd place. AHA! Suddenly, what looked like sure failure for one skier was sudden success. Not Giving Up. That's a trait among competitors.
That's how I saw the race. Apparently, Kelly Ripa saw it the same way I did. Micheal Strahan however, saw it differently. He barely noticed the one that fell and got up. Instead, he focused on the two that fell. He said if he had worked that hard to get to the Olympics and someone took him out of a race, he'd be pretty mad. I bet most guys were thinking the same thing. I wonder if that's a male vs. female attitude? Or is there something else that makes us look at the same thing differently?
In the end, for me, the Olympics are a series of stories of people; successes, failures, miracle wins and unexpected loss. I rarely remember who won which Gold, or which country has the most medals. But while the games are going on, I'm hooked. And when they are over, it is the stories that stay with me.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Olympic Inspiration
I watched the Olympics opening ceremonies on Friday night. I can't say they were the most beautiful, or extravagant I've ever seen, but I don't think they needed to be. (True confession...I was multi-tasking so my mind or my eyes weren't focused just on them.) I enjoyed them just the same. I loved the music most of all. Russia has such a rich history there, and it was beautiful.
Every time the Olympics come around I like seeing how the host country chooses to showcase it's heritage. Sometimes I really like the music, other times, not as much. Sometimes it seems long, and drawn out. Other times it's stunning. But always it is interesting. I learn a little more about the culture and I find out about a place I will most likely never see. And I am inspired and hopeful that the host country will have a good show, and a successful Olympics.
I can be easily inspired. Some would say I tend to be a little sappy about this stuff. I stand guilty. I like it when things work out. When the work of thousands come off without a major hitch. What is sad is when we focus on all the wrong things. One snowflake that didn't open when it should, hotel glitches....
There may be three things that affects the focus of these Olympics. 1) It's Russia. Even with the cold war gone, we are still in competition to show we are better, and we look for any chance to prove it. 2) The unfortunate threat of terrorism--but truthfully, hasn't that been true for the last 30 years? 3) Social Media. A twitter page has been set up just to highlight all the little things that are wrong....door knobs, bad water, rooms not ready.... I wonder if twitter had been available at any previous Olympics what problems would have been revealed? Plenty, I'm sure. Nothing of that magnitude comes off without a hitch.
We live in an age where mocking anyone or anything seems to have become an Olympic sport and most of us could qualify for the team.
I hope in the weeks to come we hear less about the glitches, and more about the real focus...the athletes. I'm looking for the stories about them. Where they come from. What they overcame. The villages around the world that has a hero in Sochi. That has always been the best part of the Olympics for me. Hearing their stories, seeing the competition.
Politics will always be a part of it. It can't help it. We are intertwined, and in competition with one another, worldwide. But it needs to be a small part of the story. Not the focus. I'm looking forward to being inspired.
Every time the Olympics come around I like seeing how the host country chooses to showcase it's heritage. Sometimes I really like the music, other times, not as much. Sometimes it seems long, and drawn out. Other times it's stunning. But always it is interesting. I learn a little more about the culture and I find out about a place I will most likely never see. And I am inspired and hopeful that the host country will have a good show, and a successful Olympics.
I can be easily inspired. Some would say I tend to be a little sappy about this stuff. I stand guilty. I like it when things work out. When the work of thousands come off without a major hitch. What is sad is when we focus on all the wrong things. One snowflake that didn't open when it should, hotel glitches....
There may be three things that affects the focus of these Olympics. 1) It's Russia. Even with the cold war gone, we are still in competition to show we are better, and we look for any chance to prove it. 2) The unfortunate threat of terrorism--but truthfully, hasn't that been true for the last 30 years? 3) Social Media. A twitter page has been set up just to highlight all the little things that are wrong....door knobs, bad water, rooms not ready.... I wonder if twitter had been available at any previous Olympics what problems would have been revealed? Plenty, I'm sure. Nothing of that magnitude comes off without a hitch.
We live in an age where mocking anyone or anything seems to have become an Olympic sport and most of us could qualify for the team.
I hope in the weeks to come we hear less about the glitches, and more about the real focus...the athletes. I'm looking for the stories about them. Where they come from. What they overcame. The villages around the world that has a hero in Sochi. That has always been the best part of the Olympics for me. Hearing their stories, seeing the competition.
Politics will always be a part of it. It can't help it. We are intertwined, and in competition with one another, worldwide. But it needs to be a small part of the story. Not the focus. I'm looking forward to being inspired.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Farewell Best Friend
I've said goodbye to the warmest, softest, sweetest, furriest, companion I've ever had. It's a heartwrenching day for me, and I want to wallow in it. Instead, I'm going to try to share some of the wonderful memories I have of Super-Shedder, aka Princess, Fuzzball, Her Highness, Gorgeous Girl, and towards the end... The Poopin' Pup. Mostly she was Miss Maggie.
We brought Maggie home in June of 2000. She was a ball of fur that loved being held. I carried her everywhere. One day we needed a tree to be trimmed and hired Tony to do the work. Tony had a Rottweiler named Buckles who went everywhere with him. Buckles was the best behaved dog I had ever seen.
Maggie harassed him mercilessly. Buckles finally retreated to the wagon where he could escape her jumping all over his head and nipping his heals.
Many years later, Maggie had her comeuppance. A friend went on a trip and we took care of her Shih-tzu puppy. Maggie had no idea what to do as Pepper climbed all over her head, bit her feet, and jumped on her tail. Call it Karma. What goes around, comes around.
Maggie had a few personality quirks.
1) She was terrified of feathers. She would growl and bark at them, and walk around them, but she wouldn't go near them.
2) She had a blankie that went everywhere with her. One time she stole our king size blanket off of our waterbed and brought it out to the family room. I made her drag it back to our bedroom and jump back up on the bed with it.
3) She loved sitting in the recliner with Larry. As a puppy it was cute. I warned him that she would want to do it as an adult. He didn't believe me.
4) She loved pizza, but anyone who has read this blog has read the stories of Maggie and pizza.
5) She learned from other dogs. It wasn't until she saw my daughter's beagle sleeping in a dog bed that she decided she would like one. And then after we got her one, it wasn't until Hunter slept in it that Maggie would use it.
From then on, Maggie and Hunter frequently swapped beds or even shared one.
7) Maggie loved babies. Photographs were proof of that. In them she can be seen lying next to the car seat, swing, or bouncer, letting toddlers crawl all over her or just crawl around her checking her out. Her expression in this picture says it all. Peace, love, and joy.
Maggie was truly a gorgeous dog, and I'm not just a proud mama. People said it so often I think she expected to hear it. She may have thought that was her name. My favorite picture was taken in Pennsylvania when she was a year old. The late afternoon sun just made her glow.
She may have been beautiful, but she was all dog. She went everywhere we would take her.
Larry took her fishing and they spent hours in the boat together.
Janice took Maggie to the barn when she was riding Leia. Leia was such a good horse that when Jan went out on a trail if Maggie didn't stay close by, Leia would turn and go back to get her. Maggie loved the barn, the horses and of course their water buckets. Especially the water buckets.
I took her on all of my travels. Of all the places I took her I never saw her as happy as when she was running on the beach at Hilton Head.
Although Maggie was a Retriever by breed, she belied that name. When it came to playing Fetch or Catch, she was more like Lucy in the outfield. She would duck her head if a Frisbee came too close, or watch it go by and then amble over to pick it up. Instead her talent lay in her nose. At a tracking clinic we were told she could have been trained as a tracker for search and rescue. On walks I think that's what she thought she was doing. They could take forever, if I let her. Her nose would check out every deer print, every bush, etc. One time she had her nose buried intently in the grass trying to ferret out whatever could be making that scent! When she raised up her head, she jumped. There was a dead bird lying in the grass 6 inches away.
Through agility training, pet sitting visits with Janice, trips to PetSmart and dog parks she met lots of dogs and one-on-one they were great, but gangs of dogs intimidated her. She much preferred people, overall. At the dog park I could always find her under a picnic table or sitting next to a human getting her ears scratched.
In Florida Maggie would go outside for a half hour at a time to lay in the sun. In Pittsburgh, it took her a couple of years to realize that just because the sun was shining didn't mean it was warm enough to go out and sunbathe. She would stand at the sliding glass doors and stare at the snow covered deck. I'd open the door and she'd take 2 steps out, Stop, and backup into the house again. The sun doesn't come out that often in winter in Pittsburgh. That may account for why it took her so long to catch on to the fact that sun didn't mean Warm!
We have been blessed. When Larry and I got married, my sister gave us a black Lab/Border Collie mix puppy as a wedding present. (She owned the mother Lab.) Headstrong, hyper and full of energy, Poko lived 15 years. Next came a headstrong but manageable and lovable chocolate Lab, Caia. We had Caia 14 years. Maggie, our yellow Lab, has been the most mellow, best behaved dog. She would have been 14 on March 1. In 43 years we have had 3 wonderful, but very different dogs...all Labrador Retrievers.
Right now, there are no plans to get another dog. We plan to travel alot and feel we need to be unencumbered. But the hole in our hearts won't go away soon. It will remain for days to come. But she gave me 14 years of Life, a beautiful life.. Our dogs have brought such joy. They have been as much a part of our family as our children. Right now, saying goodbye to Maggie is an indescribable pain. All I know is she had a pretty great life for a dog. And I had a pretty great life as her Mama.
Rest in peace, sweet girl.
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