There and Then Back

 
A week-long trip to parts unfamiliar has to be by definition a week-long trip to a different frame of mind. I just came back from a trip to Hawaii with my nearest and dearest (husband, sons & their wonderful wives, grandchildren), and am here to tell you that in the course of a week my frame of mind wandered every which way, including up--and even down.

When we arrived Saturday night, I was leaning toward the down end of the spectrum but figured it was the lack of sleep--we had gotten up at 3:30 am to catch the plane. The next day was one I don't much remember. But I know that Monday I awoke early--time for a run. Yay, right? I still felt a bit logy, but went out to meet the dawn anyway.

I've been running strong lately and so thought a steep trail heading through the woods to a bluff overlooking the ocean would be just the ticket.


It was the ticket, all right--only it felt like a ticket to a heart attack. My pulse shot up and my breath became a memory. As I slowed, it dawned on me that I might not just be a wimp, although that possibility is never out of the question, but that I might be sick. The ocean was lovely, but I didn't appreciate it as much as I might have. Yup, I had a cold.

Fast forward a couple of days. Thankfully, I began to see the beauty around me and to appreciate the complexities of the people I love most in the world. I'm sure I had been driving them crazy, and even I had gone through a short spell of defining what I know are their endearing quirks as something a little less flattering.

In the long run (and even in the 5K), for me families are like clothing. Sometimes it feels good to run around without them, but really I can't imagine living that way for long. To survive, I need to hold them close, both physically and in my heart. (Okay, so I don't actually hold my clothes close in my heart--make up your own metaphor if you'd like.) I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my family. Probably get even weirder than I already am, especially as I age.

 Because this is a running blog, I now happily report that I ran again two days later and had a most wonderful time. Running beneath tropical trees in full bloom, seeing and hearing exotic birds celebrating life, inhaling ocean-rich air with every breath--what's not to find wonderful?

 Most good things come to an end, and after the trip home this past Saturday I was once again a bit trashed. But my cold was completely gone, having migrated over to take up residence in the head and chest of Z. Oops. Sorry Sweetie!

This morning I woke up singing the Mexican Hat Dance (please don't as me why because I have no idea), and went out for a run in good ol' Pleasant Town. Midway through, I stopped at a handy picnic table to do some crunches. Ah, spring! Below is what I saw as I lay on my back. 


I decided that having my frame of mind go every which way, even upside down sometimes, isn't necessarily the worst thing in the world.




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