a nice ring to it

so, hubby lost his wedding ring.

he took the ring off because he was cleaning the bathroom and was worried it would slip off his finger and down a drain, or be tarnished by cleaning fluids.

he swears he took the ring off and put it into the front pocket of his shorts.  then, when he went to take it out of the pocket of his shorts, post cleaning, it wasn't there. 

he looked everywhere for it; tore the whole bathroom apart (even the drains) (ew), and then the rest of the house, just for good measure.  but it seems as though the ring has just disappeared into the void.  and truly, if anyone can make a ring disappear into the void, it's hubby.  just ask the garage door opener.  (except you can't because it's lost in the void.)

he was unsettled and upset, and ready to head right up to the local jewelry store to buy a replacement ring.  however, being the good wife that i am, i talked him back from that ledge.  after all, a replacement wedding ring at the jewelry store is going to cost a pretty penny (okay, a lot of pretty pennies), and it just seems silly to spend so much on something that is bound to show up someday.

so instead, he got online and ordered a replacement wedding ring.  from wal-mart.com.  for $19.00.

and yes.  you read that right.

hubby cleans the bathroom.

blue

sometimes things happen that change your life completely; that affect everything.  but it's not your story to tell.  it is someone else's story, and you  are just a supporting player.

but, somehow, it's still about you, too.  even though it's not.  even though there is really nothing you can do to change things, or even really help.  instead, you can just support the story's main character in any way possible, and try not to let on that you're nervous and worried, too.

so you keep on doing the things do, going through your days, keeping your plans, maybe even laughing, smiling, enjoying yourself, despite it all.

and you trust that everything really, truly does happen for a reason. you trust, and hope, and pray, that the door that was so forcefully slammed did so with enough force to at least crack open a new door.

and you remember this...

I am made by my times
I am a creation of now
Shaken with the cracks and crevices
I'm not giving up easy
I will not fold
I don't have much
But what I have is gold
     

        (from blue by rem)   

*******
you capture

burn, baby, burn

we called it an "aura cleansing."

it was (kind of) practical.

it seemed to help, mentally, spiritually.  and maybe a little spitefully, too.

it was lovely to watch.

and we moved on from there.


********
you capture

just a few weeks of time

sometimes so much happens in such a short space of time.

in the past few weeks i've forgotten how to breathe a few times.  i've stood completely still, unable to move because i didn't remember how to do that either.  my mind has gone completely blank, and i have been unable to respond to what was said or done.  i've stayed in the house chopping vegetables, because if  i walked out the door, words would come out of my mouth that could never be unsaid (and even though they needed to be said, it was much better that they were not said).  i've marveled at the cold, unfeeling, uncaring nature of some, and the complete selflessness, strength, and compassion of others.

these have been weeks of extremes. weeks of tension.  weeks of shock.   weeks of fear.  weeks of numbness.  weeks sprinkled with love and support and concern and hope.

i still haven't cried.  but i think, at some point, i will have to.  just to get it all out.

summer has gotten off to quite a start.

but it will get better from here.  for everyone.

karma police

he indulged with my love of pancakes.

i indulged his love of tacos.

he came with me to see my goddaughter dance.

i went with him to see radiohead be radiohead.

it all works out like that.

(summer's off to a good start. )



********
you capture.

sunrise

when i was given the green light to really go for it, running-wise, this spring, i set a pretty ambitious schedule for myself, race-wise. i figured if i was going to go for, then i should go for it.

so i did.

each week saw me grow stronger.
each run saw me grow stronger.
each race saw me grow stronger.

i had my last race of my "spring season" this past weekend. it marked the first time in three years i've raced back-to-back weekends.
 i wasn't sure how wise of a move it was, but this wasn't a race i would miss for anything.

i may not have been able to tap the sign on my way to the start line, but i did my best to play like a champion anyway.

and then i got to sit back and watch the sun rise over the stadium wall.

it was a fitting end to an amazing spring.

it was a fitting beginning to the coming summer, as i run forward with a little confidence and a lot of optimism.

stride on.

******
you capture