Jumpin' Off the Edge

It is hard to believe that is was only seven months ago that I ran 13.1 miles averaging less then ten minutes a mile. Today, that wasn't quite the case. I have been dreading, yet anticipating the Haunted Half 10K. Six point two miles after not running consistently in a very long time. Did I mention the hills? There were lots of them. I hate hills. (I am working on a way to come to love them. Be watching for that lesson.) A late night followed by a very early morning did not help my confidence. The bikes lined up for the beginning of the half-marathon. (You know I am dreaming of the day when I am riding on one of those!) I snapped a picture of Tony ready to run his first half and worked on getting into the zone. Not easy, by the way, when there is a cold wind blowing. Playlist set, I lined up for the race and  was ready for the starter pistol to go off. And then the zombies came. Dancing zombies! Quite a show it was! I was pretty sure I would be joining them at th

Today at 8:05am, I became the mother of a soldier. Although, according to Uncle Sam, that actually happened sometime in April in 2011. As far as I am concerned, it happened today when my Sean headed off to war. I have never been a proponent of war. I have always hated it. I have difficulty with the concept that death and destruction leads to peace. It makes no sense to me. I see the human side of the men and women entering the battlefield rather than the issue that brought about war in the first place. During Desert Storm, I was a single mother in college in Maine. Sean was a toddler.   When I think back to that time I am back at UMF eating lunch while watching the war. Desert Storm. The first reality show that engrossed us all. (Fortunately, my sailor sister was stationed out of harm’s way in Japan.) I watched in sadness as casualties mounted in Iraq. In between doing homework and motherly duties, I found time to write to friends from high school now in the military.   I also wro