Just Rannin' Around

Monday, June 30, 2008

Discovering that I am getting old

I am probably in the best physical shape of my adult life, however my knees like to remind me that they are not what they used to be when they ache as I run. That doesn’t stop me though. This isn’t the reason that I feel like I am getting old. I still play hard and enjoy life. The reason I feel this way, I have caught myself on several occasions saying things that I never thought that would come out of my mouth that have me looking into the purchase of a walker with tennis balls on the back two legs.

I have always been a people watcher. On Wednesdays as I come and go from the temple I see couples and I rarely don’t see at least one where the thought runs through my mind, “they are too little to be married.” I have also had similar thoughts to those I see driving cars, “they are too little to be driving.” No worries, it gets even better than this.


The other day I was talking to a friend and I said something along the fact that, “Kids these days are just too spoiled. They get everything that they want when they want it and are not taught to work for anything.” This was followed by, “I was never handed anything. If I wanted something I had to work and save for it including my education and I am better off for doing it that way because I appreciate it more. They just have it too easy.” There was more, but I think that the point has been made . . . I have officially turned old.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

I’ve got a pocket, got a pocket full of sunshine!

Of course I had to bring it home with me from my short visit to California and hide it in my pocket for fear that the dark clouds here would eat it up as they have been doing all year.

Speaking of my trip to California. . .

I had a blast! It was needed time away from the reality which I call my life. I flew out on Thursday night and arrived at the Long Beach airport a little after 8:00 that night. I went and got my rental car and headed 40 minutes south to Paula’s house. Although I have driven to Paula’s house several times in past years, I felt extremely grown up this time because I was all by myself. Even better is I received a phone call from cute Paula when I was almost to her home and she instructed me to turn around and meet her and Angel somewhere I had never before been. I am always up for adventures, so turn around I did and I even found them! We had dinner and then (I know this is going to be a shock to all that know me) we had ice cream or rather frozen yogurt.

Friday morning we were up at the crack of dawn. It was after all, road trip Friday. We headed down to San Diego. When we got there we were starving as we had not eaten breakfast yet and so McDonald’s was a quick stop. I even busted out singing while we were waiting in line. I think that Paula was going to fall over laughing. Sometimes I am funny!

After filling our tummies, we went and enjoyed a session at the San Diego Temple. I must admit that I was amazed at the beauty of this temple. However there was nothing as awesome (and I mean this in the true sense of the word) as entering the Celestial Room. I think that I had to pull my jaw off the floor and wipe tears from my eyes. I don’t have the words to express all the feelings that ran through me in that setting. It was incredible.

We finished up and of course, took some pictures of us outside (did I mention that it was a perfect day in more than one sense). Then back in the car and off for another ride this time from San Diego to Los Angeles. We arrived there in time for a little lunch. We went to a quaint little place called Tito’s Taco. Okay there was nothing quaint about it. It was a hole in the wall, but some of the best tacos that I have ever eaten. Again after refueling our bodies, we headed to the Los Angeles Temple.

I have been to this temple before, but just the outside as at the tender age of 20 I was in the line of one of my dearest friend’s wedding. The inside of this temple was also spectacular. It reminded me a lot of the Salt Lake Temple in the age and ornate handwork. I was in awe as we went from room to room. As I quietly sat in the Celestial Room, so many tender feelings welled up inside of me. There was definitely a connection with a few people that this temple held for me and there were many prayers offered. At times my goal of visiting every temple seems looming and unreachable, but as I attend another temple it encourages me to push forward and not give up. There is a special spirit of the people of the area found in each temple. It is a unique experience in each and every temple.

The rest of the evening was full of playing. I was worn out by the time we hit the dance party that night. However Paula is the energizer bunny! She just keeps going and going and going. So I was the party pooper and dragged her off the floor so that I could go home and get some sleep.

Saturday morning we had another early morning as we were running a 5K in Newport Beach. I was so excited for this race. I was running at a fairly good pace, but didn’t realize how good a pace until I passed the first mile marker and the girl was calling out the time. I had run the first mile in 10:24, which was great time for me. I had already found my running partner and we were talking quite a bit as we paced each other. The second mile was just slightly slower than the first and when the timer called out 21:26 as I passed, I couldn’t help but smile. The smile however was quickly pulled from my face. I rounded the corner right after mile two and was greeted by a steep incline. Almost all of the last mile was straight uphill. Needless to say, I didn’t keep my pace and I came in a little over 35 minutes right ahead of my newest running friend. We were met at the finish line by her husband who took our picture together. Nice to know there is a picture of me hot and sweaty somewhere in California.

There was so, so much more. Church on Sunday was fabulous and of course my lack of shyness had me talking to several couples that were sitting around me. However if you would like that interesting story, well you will just have to ask me.

Lots of fun and I am still trying to get caught up on my sleep! Thanks Paula for humoring me this last weekend!!

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

“Then comes the fourth obstacle: the fear of realizing the dream for which we fought all our lives. The mere possibility of getting what we want fills the soul of the ordinary person with guilt. We look around at those who have failed to get what they want and feel that we do not deserve to get what we want either. We forget about all the obstacles we overcame, all the suffering we endured, all the things we had to give up in order to get this far. I have known a lot of people who, when their personal calling was within their grasp, went on to commit a series of stupid mistakes and never reached their goal – when it was only a step away.” -Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

I paused after reading this statement and pondered whether or not I was guilty of doing such stupid mistakes . . .


 

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