Thankful for All Things Great and Small

When I am old and forgetful, this is a Thanksgiving I am going to want to remember and so I am going to share a few of the highlights with you. Sure, yes, I know – you are welcome, now on with the Thanksgiving that was 2012.

The highlights begin with a Wednesday call from Maddy asking what we were going to have for Thanksgiving Dinner. Lasagna Maddy – what else would we serve? She then quizzed me on the deserts: Michigan Cherry Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and a White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake. Her reply, ugh you made that last year and no one ate it. Thankfully, this year, I am not attempting any oven adventures. Instead, I am supporting the economy. I can’t bake – I don’t even want to pretend like I can anymore. I have no pride left.

Finally the great day arrives and I start it with the 2nd Annual Marshville Damn Pie 5k. This is a neighborhood run and I love it. It is so much fun it really feels like community family of runners coming together. The route isn’t one of my favorites but I like that we run it blind. No timers. We all predict our finish time before the race and then we just go out and run. The runner closest to their time wins a pumpkin pie. I missed it by .17 seconds last year and missed it by more than 4 minutes this year. Yes sir, a PR for me on this fine day.

Here is a side note on my running Personal Records (PR). When I was younger and ran with a smaller body and the spirit of a young woman, I could pace a nice 7.5 – 8.5 mile. That was the ghost of my Running Past. Now in the Ghost of Running Present, my PR is a swift 31.29 for a 5k (3.1 miles) and that is a solid 10.12 pace. I am gunning for a sub-10 with my Ghost of Running Future. Did you notice, now that we are past Thanksgiving I can freely make Christmas references?

Filled with the pride of a great run I walked home with my son’s megaphone slung over my shoulder, a bottle of champagne in one hand and a mimosa in the other. Nice start to the day and it was about to get trumped by a surprise visit from B, Max and Phia.

Then it was time to prepare for the feast and I kid you not . . . I completely messed up the Jell-O. My poor children will never be able to share stories of how they learned to cook in mom’s kitchen.

The day ended with Steve and Jess coming over for (purchased) deserts and some games. It was a great day. We missed Megan (who had to work) and Jake (who has a special friend family celebration in Chicago) but with Christmas only a month away full family joy will soon be had.

Assignment: What if we all tried Thanks-Thursday each week – how awesome would that be?!

Lead with Love and random Awesomeness

This past weekend, every time I even thought about writing, I ended up stepping onto a soapbox. There are a lot of things troubling me about this ole’ world. I believe we could benefit from a collective time-out. We need a chance to calm down and think about how we are handling ourselves and treating others. Simple toddler fodder but those basics seem to be absent of late.

Problem is, with each soapbox rant I envisioned, I didn’t feel any better. I was just venting like a crazy woman and it all seemed to add to the problem. With that, on this Monday before Thanksgiving, I am going to try to be a part of the solution. I am going to try to lead with love.

Love and random awesomeness so our minds can rest from the anger, hate, and blame people seem to be getting all too comfortable with for my taste. Here is some random awesomeness for you to start stretching out your bellies in anticipation for Thursday’s feast. Nope, that does NOT make sense but stay with me here.

This past weekend, our high school team fought the hard fight on the field but they were defeated. No worries, I still believe and I am beyond proud of their accomplishments. Extra ‘ta-da’ for the coach who lives in my home (insert cat noise here and envision me making a claw with my hand and a sexy face). Go Tiger , Whew, TMI . . . ?

One thing I did notice at the game was the significant lack of cheers from my high school days. Maybe if I share them with you, you will also find it odd. Let’s see if you can connect with any of these gems . . .

Be Aggressive. B.E. Aggressive. B.E. AGG. RESS. IVE. Say What? (Crowd reply: Say What?). Be Aggressive.

R.O.W. D.I.E, that’s the way we spell rowdie. Rowdie, let’s get rowdie.

Push em’ back, Push em’ back . . .way Back.

First and 10 – do it again!

And in anticipation for basketball season, my all time favorite (this is a PG-13 cheer never sanctioned by the cheerleaders . . and only conducted by students in the stands).
Hit em’ in the left knee. Hit em’ in the right knee. Hit em’ in the wee-nee, wee-need a referee.

Oh, good times.

Assignment: Lead with Love . . .See what that does for a change. Happy Thanksgiving.

Football Hopes and Dreams

My husband is one of the coaches for the area high school football team and that team is having a very good year. This past weekend they played for the regional title – and won. This is the first time in the school’s history that it has advanced this far into the playoff rounds. Next step is semi-finals and if that goes well, a battle for the state title.

This is some pretty exciting stuff for our small community. This is so exciting, in fact, that a few hundred of us made the 8 hour trip north to cheer the boys on to a victory. Yes, you read that correctly, 8 hours one way to watch a 3 hour football game and then get in the car and make the long trek home. Oh, and did I mention that this football game was played in a downpour of rain. None of this mattered. This weekend was for the boys, for the coaches, for our town and the community’s sense of pride and hope a sport can bring. I can’t explain this - you either get it, or you don’t (btw, I do hope you get it).

As I looked throughout the stands all I could see was purple and white. It was heartwarming. Our cheers were so loud that the radio station covering the game picked them up and carried them off to those who were following the game from home. It was amazing. The boys played so hard and never, ever, gave up. It was thrilling. At the end of the game, the victory was declared and the opposing team’s (outstanding running back) grandfather congratulated me (we were sitting next to each other – awkward!), and we all rushed the field to share our pride. It was beautiful.
On the field, tears of joy were flowing, hugs to players were given, and bliss – just pure, simple bliss was shared. At that moment, that very moment, everyone’s hopes and dreams had come true.

Assignment: Send good thoughts our way for this weekend’s semi-final round.

Inventions!

Last night the football game was ccccoooollllldddd. With me, I had my .99 gloves and some hand warmers. This did nothing for the fingers that were quickly forming into flesh covered icicles. I removed my fingers from their glove sleeves and wrapped them over the warmer in my palm. As I watched the finger sleeves waving in the wind I thought, this is a great invention! I did more than think it - I annouced it proudly. As soon as I said it, I realized that the people who invented mittens must have had the same idea.

Assignment: Never stop thinking up the better mouse trap. But, don’t be surprised if people stare at you when you brightly announce it.