This weekend

As I sit this afternoon and watch this windy Sunday wind down I have some time to look back on the weekend/week.

I was very spoiled this past week as I got to see Tommy on Wednesday for the concert and then Thursday night the fam and Chris & I met for dinner to celebrate Dad's birthday and Tommy's job. On Saturday morning I was able to go to Mom and Dad's while Chris went to work and spent the day just the 4 of us. It was bittersweet in so many ways, but none the less it was incredibly comforting for me to be there as Bubba packed up his car. He ended up taking off at about 930pm and arrived safely this morning in Seattle. Little by little he is trying to get everything in order for himself as the academy starts soon.

In your mind you never know quite how to handle a good-bye. I distinctly remember this from when I was at home for the weekend while in grad school. Me being me, it was ALWAYS hard to drive away and see the family standing at the door waving. No matter if it was year one or three it was always a challenge to "leave home". It did get easier as I became really good at telling myself, I will see them in ____ days/weeks, etc. Last night was a bit different. It is weird what your mind does and how simply walking by an "empty" room at the house was melancholy.

We all tried to sleep and prepare to get up bright and early for my race this morning. It was a breezy and chilly morning today, so I felt very lucky to have Mom and Dad out there in the elements at 6 am with me! I had wanted to pace myself to break an hour 30 minutes, which in my calculations meant an 8 minute mile.......however....somewhere along the race I realized why I am not in accounting.....or anything to do with numbers for that matter.....my calculations were wrong. I ended up crossing the finish line in an hour and 40 minutes, which meant I kept a 7 minute 39 second pace! Needless to say, I am/was still shocked. I am a runner who opts not to use music and I can just say that at many times during the race I was able to get "in my own head" and attempt to sort through the last few months. There are a few visions/feelings that I won't soon forget from this week......

* Reaching over to hug Tommy at the concert, finally giving in to my emotions

* Seeing my incredible parents at mile 5 cheering for me. As a kid who played sports.....it means even more as an adult to have them cheer for you.....even now.

* Looking up into the stands happy to see Ma & Pa at the end, but sad that Chris wasn't able to hear "Erin Vestal" as I crossed the finish line, only to look again and see his smiling face :)

* Realizing how lucky I am to have the family and husband I have. There is no distance or time that can change the bonds and memories that we were so blessed to share over the years.