Getting to Go

I view travel - even if it's for business - as "I get to go".  I don't care where it is.  I've been to Cleveland, OH on a business trip.  I still enjoyed that trip.  I had never been there.  It was interesting city and it wasn't as gloomy as they tell you.  Yes, it was the middle of winter.

Years ago I traveled much for business.  All just in the USA.  Mainly even the West Coast.  I had the best territory ever.  (At least for me)  Denver, Phoenix, San Diego, Orange County, LA, San Fran.  It was great.  Easy flights.  Beautiful WARM cities.

Even on business, I would find fun things to do.  Or stay an extra day.  Or bring a friend or a kid along to see different things.  If it wasn't an adventure, I was going to make it an adventure.

Now my trips are fun.  I do try to put some "learning" into each trip.  Although, I don't like the traditional "go through each museum and "see" what they are displaying.  I'm more of a "let's go find the best breakfast place the locals recommend.  Or "Let's go find the OLDEST museum/restaurant/church/bicycle shop" in town.  OR "Let's run where athletes have run for years and see what they see".  I'm about the experience.

In planning this trip with the kids to Europe, the last thing I want to do is "drag them from church to church, museum to museum."  Kids don't like that - although, some times you do have to do those things you don't like - you just have to see it.  I don't like doing that either.  I've been thinking of other ideas:

• While in London, let's actually GO to a church service at the Westminster Abby (we are Episcopalian) and this is where the branch of our church started.  Actual history.
• While in Paris, maybe we can find the oldest chocolate shop in each area.
• While at the Louvre (sorry, they have to go there). Not only do we have to see the Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo, maybe each kid has to see if there is a piece of art with their name in it?  Find a piece of art with a "rabbit" in it.
• Ask a local for the best creperie in town and go there.
• Take the stairs to the top of the Eiffel tower versus the elevator.
• Rent bicycles and tour the town on the bike - packing a lunch and stopping at local markets for more food.

A few years ago, Duncan was invited to go to Germany with a friend of his. His friends family (the mom) is actually German. They have family there.  It didn't end up working out for Duncan to meet them - the family had to re-route their vacation that year.  But I was SO excited about him GETTING to go.  What an opportunity.  

Was I worried for his safety?  No more than I worry here.  He's going to do this one day on his own (At least I hope he does).  Why not take this opportunity and let him explore with another family?  

The real, true problem - I was jealous.  I WANTED to go with him.  Of course I did.  He gets to go on an adventure?  And it doesn't include me????  

I just have to remember, this is their life too.  I would also rather they slowly get to explore the world (with some adults still around), then go on their own.  Hopefully, the good things they have learned can be taken and applied to their whole life.  Then they get to go........

Divorce

People use the term "divorce" all the time now.  I"m going to "divorce" my bank - I don't want to do business with them any more.  I'm "divorcing" a job, it's not healthy.

Divorce isn't always about a marriage of two people.  But today, let's look at a positive side of divorce between two people.

Here you have two people whom don't agree on things any more.  Yes, I think divorce is a cop-out and people do get divorced without trying hard.  But you can also get married with doing any work either.  I think we have the system backwards:  there should be a year waiting period after you decide you want to get married before you can get married.  If you still want to get married after the year, then you can get married.

You hear all time the time "kids of divorce are from a broken home".  Yes, there are some bad situations out there.  I also know plenty of people whom aren't happy together, yet stay together for the kids.  Meanwhile, the kids are living in hell because NO ONE is happy.

What about the happy medium?

I think my sons play ENTIRELY too much hockey.  Travel teams, club teams, school teams?  Where do you draw the line?

If I was still married, I would just have to deal with it.  And not be happy - I wouldn't not be happy because my sons are playing hockey, I would be sad because I wouldn't be able to show them the things I think are important in their growth.  We wouldn't be able to go to Hawaii.  We wouldn't be able to travel for non-hockey adventures. And many other things.

Instead, in our family, we accept differences.  I support the hockey opportunities emotional for my kids, just not financially.  Their dad supports his sons opportunities to explore the world emotionally, just not financially.

We both understand our boys best interest is at heart.  We just have different adventures for them.

Remembering

When the boys were little, people said all the time "you need to write this stuff down".  You know the funny stuff, the little things, the things you won't remember.  Of course, I didn't do it.

I HATE when people can't talk about anything but the past (yes, my mother does this all the time and it drives me crazy - she knows it drives me crazy) - Mothers are here to drive you crazy.  Just ask my kids. Yes, some moments are good to reminisce, but the present is also a wonderful place to live.

What I really need to remember is things where I made a mistake, or I learned something - so the next time I go to do it, I can do it better or not repeat the same mistakes.

This winter running is much harder than spring/summer running.

Things I need to remember if I do this again:  (and we know I will)

• It's cooler when you run, and the GOOD thing - you can go run anytime - I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to go run.  It will be cool out in the middle of the afternoon.
• Running while it is cool feels great - but when you stop, you are COLD.  It's because you are wet.
• Feel too cold to get in the shower, then you warm up - and you realize how bad you smell.  Just get in the shower.
• Arms still chafe even if you have a long sleeve shirt on over the tank.
• You still need water - maybe not as much, but you are still getting dehydrated
• Not all places that are open in the summer to use the restroom/get a drink of water are open in the winter.  (Winter Hours at Wash Park Rec Center).  Ran 7 miles - could have run 10 if the rec center had been open.
• Buy some crappy long sleeve t-shirts.  More clothes.  More to smell.  More to wash.  Things wear out faster
• You need gloves and ear warmers.  Be okay with throwing things away.  Or make sure you leave a note that you will be back
• Don't do this again.  What the hell were you thinking?
• Oh, yeah, you lost 10 pounds and you got to go to Paris and London - and you get to take your kids.  

It was just a little bit of a pain.  Right?

Second

How come everyone wants to go first?

Be the first to do things.  The first in a competition.

Sports, Debate team, piano competitions, and whatever other "organized competitive" events - I get wanting to be first.  It's an award.  A prize.  In fact, my oldest son, in a hockey tournament said he would rather come in third than second.  His philosophy:  When you are second, you lost to first.  When you are third, at least you beat the fourth ranked team.

Then there is first at "doing new things".  The explorers of the world.  The risk takers.  I guess not everyone wants to go first.  There is a whole personality group type out there whom would much rather someone else go first.  Let them figure things out, then they can follow along.  But not all whom go first succeed.  Sometimes, it is the second one or the third one whom try whom actually make it - they learned the mistakes of the first explorers.

What about being second in something where you had no choice?

The second child
The second chosen for the job, because the first one turned it down.
The second wife?

My dear friend whom lost his wife seven years ago is now married again and has a baby.  Granted this week was a really hard one - it was not only the anniversary of the first wife's death, but also her birth.  The current wife fell apart.

Part of it is hormones, they do have a newborn in the house.  The other part?  Why does everyone continue to want to "think about him" when she died?

I sent a text to her saying "I know today might be hard for you, but just remember we love you."  Not we love you too.  Just we love you.

She went too far.  She crossed a line with all the friends; her words to everyone "I know it was sad.  It was a horrible day, but let's look at how I have been blessed."  This wasn't about her.  I said to her, "People weren't saying they aren't glad to have you.  People are just sad, because not only did your husband lose a wife, everyone lost a friend."

I don't think it helped.

She cannot get over the fact that "She came in second".  I received a text from her at two in the morning on how sad she really was.  While she said she was fine before.

"Welcome to the I don't like February club".  It will get easier with time.  He doesn't love you too - He loves you.  Also.

I'm not one to like the middle of things.  I definitely don't like playing second place.  You just have to remember it's not a competition.  Unless you are competing, there are no prizes.

"Being someone's first love is great.  It's being their last love that is priceless....."

Starting over

Can you ever really erase history?  Start at the beginning with no baggage?  Start at the start - again?

I don't know.

My running buddy and his wife (whom have been married for over 40 years), they can start over.  They can start a conversation and realize it's not going in the direction either of them intended.  So, they start over. But, they don't "re-start".  They just "start".  Even in the same conversation.  Stop.  Start.  When you re-start, you "disregard the previous statement".

But, can you really do that?  Un-ring a bell?  Not hear something that was spoken?

We all misspeak.

Say words we wish we could take back.

But, truly, can we undo it?  I know we want too.

Tonight, I was at Duncan't hockey game.  When I walk into the bathroom, there is a group of teenage girls standing there gossiping.  One of the girls gives me a hug.  We talk a bit about her boyfriend (they broke up), she's just there to watch Duncan's team..... Hmmm.....

I then go into a stall.  I hear the girls talking.  I hear "that's Duncan's mom".  The conversation continues.  I giggle.  Then, I couldn't help my self.  "I can still hear you".  I couldn't resist.  It got suddenly quiet.

Leaving the bathroom, they were all standing there.  Pink in the cheeks.  I just said "Hi ladies" and continued walking.

Peter Pan wants to try this.  With me.  I don't believe him.  I look at his track record.  I look at my track record.

This is impossible.

I receive the text, "Shouldn't we try?"

"How do we start over?"  Erase the mistakes and not hold them as grudge?

I'm not sure.

I don't know if I know how.  Although, I remember hearing the greatest form of forgiveness is to let it go.

I don't remember loving you.

So, then I receive a text from Peter Pan.  My reply:  "Who is this?".

"That cute blonde guy you met at a bar."

"Oh, I don't remember much about you."

"Trust me, you want to know me."  Oh yeah?  "Yeah".  "So, do you like tomatoes?"

Owning this month

When I think December is bad, I just remember "December has NOTHING on February"

December is hectic.  It's cold.  It's dark, but there are bright spots through the entire month.  

But February......It's a whole different animal.....

Last February, I said I was going to OWN this February.  I was going to plan, it was all going to fall into place, and THIS February, it was going to be mine.

Every morning, I look at the calendar and think, "I made it one more day".  We are going to get through February - then the rest of the year is going to fly.  But for the shortest month of the year, it's usually, the longest.

SO - this is what I'm doing DIFFERENT this February:

• I'm running.  I ran 7 miles today.  It was 29 degrees when we stopped running.  I was sweating.  (One of those things as a girl born in Texas that I will NEVER understand!  (How can it be 29 degrees or heck, even -20, and I'm SWEATING?)
• I'm on track to have several "starts" this month (in the recruiting world, I get paid when people start working).
• I'm going to write - every day. Okay, maybe only every other day.  But they say exercise is THE best anti-depressant you can buy.  I'm betting doing anything you love comes in second.
• I'm eating chips when I want to eat chips.  My choice of today was BBQ Lays.  (And now feel sick, but the handful was really good).
• I'm planning.
• I'm buying plane tickets for the future.  This February I don't have to run away.  (although, I still might).
• I'm being the strong one
• The dreamer
• The believer.

I'm not the only one whom doesn't like February.  

There is group of us whom a February was very tragic.  It's gets a bit easier each year, but there are still moments that it seems like yesterday.

or

My "first son", the one whom was born when I was in college  - and I got to see in Oahu last summer called the other day.  He's still stationed in Hawaii.  "Aunt Leasa, instead of going home this summer, can I just come stay with you in Kona?"   Then later seeing a post on his Facebook page "Sorry, I can't do that this summer, I'm staying in Hawaii with my Aunt at her beach house"

or 

A sweet girl in California sending pictures from last summer.  Missing us.  Hating the "politics of high school". Wanting to plan our summer.

or 

Another sweet teenage girl still in Hawaii, wanting to know when we are getting back.  "There is JUST so much to tell"......

I didn't have the heart to tell any of them, "we have to find a different house this summer"

I guess we all get the February blues.  But this month, I'm going to own it.  I just need to breathe and tell my tribe to breathe too.  

We will make it through February.  I can hear the ocean telling me that now....

What an idea

I'm on the elliptical this morning.  Exercise really does clear my head.

By the end of the 30 minutes, my head was clear and my body was smelly.  But here is what I was thinking during the workout:

"This is all okay.  Maybe we won't go back to Kona this summer.  We can go to another island?  There are many places in this WORLD we can go.  There are many other islands.  We can try a new place.  Or maybe we should go to Puerto Rico?  It's still in the states, I could still work, yet we still have the beach.  

Or maybe, let's road trip this summer.  We could leave Denver, head to Sedona (to see our former neighbor from Hawaii).  Stay in Sedona for a bit.  Head to California.  Stay with some friends out there.  Then head back through Vegas, then to Salt Lake City, then back to Denver.

Or maybe, we go back to Texas this summer.  We drive to Dallas, then head down to the beach with Carolyn and her daughter."

All this went through my mind.  Then I got off the elliptical.

The oxygen came back to brain.  Those all sound like HORRIBLE ideas.  We need to go home.  We will figure it out.

(I told both boys all my thoughts - they both answered the same way "Those are horrible ideas, Mom.  We need to home.")

I get it. I'm on it.