Birthday eve
Tomorrow is Sunday, and I will turn 35. I will run in a race, 13.1 miles. I haven't trained as well for this race as I should have, but I still think I will finish and have fun. At least that is what I hope. I am really mostly excited to be with friends ... some hometown friends and some friends from far away.
Today it is Saturday, and I am still 34. It is gray and cold outside, and the wet wind is blowing through my house's cracked windows. It brings a chill, but the fresh air is welcome. This week, my house has been painted in every room from ceiling to floor. It is still not finished, and the painters will return on Monday. To say I have coped with the disruption and mess of this experience poorly would be an understatement. I am trying very hard to focus on the positive -- new walls, new trim, new colors, new light, all breathing new life into my home.
I ran 6.2 miles in a race last weekend, and I enjoyed myself a lot. I ran that distance faster than I ever have (not fast for many, but for me), and I felt empowered and alive. I spent many hours visiting one of my oldest friends and her three precious daughters, one of whom is brand new. I had two visits this week at my favorite coffee shop on planet earth. The shop owners know I've given up sweets for Lent so put a candle in a slice of pineapple that accompanied my cheese and egg pastry and sang happy birthday to me. That was pretty lovely of them. Soon I will see Brandi Carlile & the Indigo Girls in concert again, and that is always a wonderful thing.
I've slept both at my neighbor's house and my parents' house this week. I feel a bit displaced and out of sorts but know it's all temporary and that I'm lucky to have these places to run away to. My pets' minds have been blown by this mayhem and they've spent hours and days in various confined spaces, but I am hoping the chaos and paint fumes will purge themselves from their memories and lungs (and mine) soon enough.
My nose is a bit sniffly from the cold wet air, and I'm bundled up in fleece pants and a hooded sweatshirt bearing the emblem of my elementary school, one that my little brother wore there. (We wore these sweatshirts many sizes too large for us as children, apparently.) I'm listening to a best of Avett Brothers mix that I made once. Right now this song is playing, and its words feel like the perfect ones to embrace today:
Today it is Saturday, and I am still 34. It is gray and cold outside, and the wet wind is blowing through my house's cracked windows. It brings a chill, but the fresh air is welcome. This week, my house has been painted in every room from ceiling to floor. It is still not finished, and the painters will return on Monday. To say I have coped with the disruption and mess of this experience poorly would be an understatement. I am trying very hard to focus on the positive -- new walls, new trim, new colors, new light, all breathing new life into my home.
I ran 6.2 miles in a race last weekend, and I enjoyed myself a lot. I ran that distance faster than I ever have (not fast for many, but for me), and I felt empowered and alive. I spent many hours visiting one of my oldest friends and her three precious daughters, one of whom is brand new. I had two visits this week at my favorite coffee shop on planet earth. The shop owners know I've given up sweets for Lent so put a candle in a slice of pineapple that accompanied my cheese and egg pastry and sang happy birthday to me. That was pretty lovely of them. Soon I will see Brandi Carlile & the Indigo Girls in concert again, and that is always a wonderful thing.
I've slept both at my neighbor's house and my parents' house this week. I feel a bit displaced and out of sorts but know it's all temporary and that I'm lucky to have these places to run away to. My pets' minds have been blown by this mayhem and they've spent hours and days in various confined spaces, but I am hoping the chaos and paint fumes will purge themselves from their memories and lungs (and mine) soon enough.
My nose is a bit sniffly from the cold wet air, and I'm bundled up in fleece pants and a hooded sweatshirt bearing the emblem of my elementary school, one that my little brother wore there. (We wore these sweatshirts many sizes too large for us as children, apparently.) I'm listening to a best of Avett Brothers mix that I made once. Right now this song is playing, and its words feel like the perfect ones to embrace today:
I don't want to get beat beat down by the big big world
and quit before I even start
Lord, I just want my life to be true
and I just want my heart to be true
and I just want my words to be true
I want my soul to feel brand new.
and quit before I even start
Lord, I just want my life to be true
and I just want my heart to be true
and I just want my words to be true
I want my soul to feel brand new.
posted by eliza @ 11:10 AM
9 Comments:
If I were you, I'd take a moment this evening to look back on the past almost-35 years, and take a huge amount of pride in all the accomplishments. Reading your blog has been such a joy to me because, unlike other bloggers who shall not be named, you learn and you grow. Even when you're hit with problems and grief, you have NEVER turned away from the teachings those opportunities provide. You embrace change better than anyone I've ever encountered.
I am 100% certain that more wonderful things are on the way for you. And tomorrow I'll be thinking about you and your marathon, knowing there's no need to cross fingers or hope for your success because you, my dear, WILL succeed. It's what you do best. :-)
A very very happy birthday to you, Eliza.
Happy birthday to you, and best of luck on your run! I'm excited for all of you guys, and I can't wait to read about it.
Best of luck with the half marathon, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Happy Birthday to you, Eliza!! 35 is a special age--both to you and your parents: they probably never thought this day would come and you felt the same. And look, it's here and you've accomplished so much! I hope you have something special planned?
Also, thanks for the animal report--I always love hearing about them. xxKaren
Happy Birthday! I forgot yours is the day after mine.
"You say it's your birthday, it's my birthday, too, yeah!"
Happy Birthday, Eliza!
Happy birthday and congratulations on the run. So impressive! I can totally sympathise with your experience with the painters. I'm having new floors laid and have turned into a bag lady staying at various friends' spare rooms while the guys rip my place apart. And what started as a reasonably straightforward job has turned into a saga with no end in sight. Still it will be lovely as you said when it's finished.
Thank you all so, so much for your wonderful birthday wishes. They mean so much!
A Belated Happy Birthday!
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