Happy Father's Day

Hi Dad,

Happy Father's Day!  Each time I get a message with something about Father's Day I feel like someone has punched me in the gut again.  For the first time in my life, I can't think about what I can get you, what you need, what you might want.  And it hurts... but as the meme below says.... grief is really just love - love that you want to give, but cannot. But I can and I will... I will always love you even though I can't see or touch you. And that love does gather in the corners of my eyes, forms a lump in my throat, and hollows out my chest.

And I honored you today with a half-marathon - Duo at the Ledges.  It was a fundraiser for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, so I thought it was appropriate.  I printed out your photo (the one from Jennie and Adam's wedding - of you with the most beautiful, loving, compassionate, proud smile). I had it laminated and I pinned it to the back of my Michigan Runner's shirt - the one that says, "Courage to start, will to endure, strength to finish".  The quote always reminds me of you because you had the will (and love) to endure so much and the strength beyond measure.

Well the weather forecast wasn't too bad - misty rain, about 64 degrees.

Well, that was the forecast - we ran through a thunderstorm, massive downpours, puddles on the sidewalks and roads, and mud.  But we did it - we reminisced about walks at Lake Welsh, building trenches around the campsite, swimming at Lake Welsh, and drives from Lake Welsh to work so we could spend an extra week or two there.  I wondered about your picture and would it hold up in the rain - it did (as did my phone, which was in my hydration pack).  I thought about how much you did for all of us over the years, and this seemed minuscule by comparison and it was.

But I'm proud to have done it in your honor! And by the way, I got an age group PR - fastest half marathon I've done since October 2016!  Came in third in my age group (of three, but hay, I still got a medal for coming in third).  

Well, Happy Father's Day.... love you!

Susan

12 States/1 Province - all to run 3.5 hours in Maine

Hi Dad,

So in some crazy moment months ago, I decided that it would be cool to run a 25 km trail race in Maine with some friends of mine.  And so I signed up, without checking into the route, elevation change, etc.  Simon and I had planned to fly to Hartford, drive to Boothbay Harbor, ME, then Standish, ME. Well, the night before we had a 5:50 am flight, he informed me that he was having floaters in his eye.  Too late to see an eye doctor, we ended up canceling the flights, figuring it was best to get his eye checked in the morning. Well, thankfully, it wasn't a torn retina or something serious, so we decided to drive... through Ontario, NY, VT, NH, and finally into ME.

As we traveled down two-lane highways in Vermont and New Hampshire, I told Simon stories of our many camping trips in Vermont when we were all so much younger.  (BTW, he wanted to take the train to the top of Mount Washington and hike down. But alas, we were too early in the season - which was fine with me.  I didn't want to hike down the mountain two days before a major race).  We picked up some VT cheddar cheese in a small gift shop - reminded me of Cabot, VT. Oh, we had so much fun on those trips, didn't we?  Thought of you and Mom when we went through Laconia - well, yes, I wasn't there, but I vividly remember the photo of you and Mom.

We stayed three nights on Sebago Lake.  It was serene and beautiful - a relaxing break from the stress of work - but too cold to swim in!  Ah, Maine!

On Saturday, several of us went for a short run in the morning then I had hoped to give my friends a tour of the Maine coast. Well, they wanted to go to LL Bean, so we did that, after we picked up our race packets.  We never made it to the coast, but at least my friends had Maine lobster and then on the way back we found this

very interesting swinging bridge in Bath, ME. We enjoyed the stop and had experimented to see how much the bridge really swung - quite a bit.

Sunday was race day. The start for the 50km race, which several friends were running was 8 am - not too bad of a start time. It was 10 am for the 25km race. The race was held at a place called Pineland Farms. I expected some little farm stand, but no, the grounds were massive. There were several large brick buildings on the grounds also.  Turns out it was a "home for the feeble minded" (yes, seriously, that was what it was called).  Its now a beautifully kept conference center, however, when a friend of mine told me about the course, I wondered if I was the feeble-minded one!  Yes, the course was brutal - about 2800 ft of elevation change, with some hills so steep I walked down them.  Nevertheless, the course was brutal and I have to admit I was glad when I was done and thankful I hadn't let my friends convince me to do the 50 km race (two laps of the 25k). 

I wanted to see Mom as we were back east and it was only an additional 2 hours to drive to the house on Monday, stay overnight, and head to Michigan on Tuesday morning.  Besides, we'd beat much of the holiday traffic if we did this.

So on Monday morning we headed first to York, ME as I had promised Mom I would bring her a Maine lobster.  And then I promised Steve I would bring him one as a birthday present.  Besides he needed something to cheer him up as he was so disappointed he wasn't able to get the Model A started for the parade.  (You would be so proud of Noah - he watched everything you did with the Model A and could explain exactly how to start it.  Steve is planning to drive it in the 4th of July parade).  So we stopped in York and picked up three cooked and cooled lobsters, lobster meat for Paulette so she could make a lobster roll, and several quarts of clam chowder. 

Well the lobsters were a big hit. Steve ate two of them and Mom enjoyed hers.  Paulette was very happy with her lobster meat.  And the clam chowder was enjoyed by all over the next few days.

So let's see - I said 12 states: well Massachusetts, Connecticut, NY, and NJ on Monday and then on Tuesday: Pennsylvania, Ohio, and back to Michigan.  Yes, 12 states and one province to run 3.5 hours in the woods!  Steve said Simon has the patience of a saint for doing this with me (and driving most of the distance).  You'd probably agree (so do I).

Love you,

Susan

Hi Dad, I can't believe its been a month since I wrote (Part 1)

Hi Dad,

Its afternoon coffee time and I'm sitting here thinking of you and wondering if you'd like a cup of coffee and a piece of Entemann's crumb cake? Or perhaps you'd like some Great Harvest pumpkin bread?

At lot has happened in the last month.  I spent Mother's Day with Mom - we had a wonderful weekend. We watched movies... including "A Walk in the Woods" about two 60-some year olds who decide to walk the Appalachian Trail.  They're head off on the trail in Georgia, totally unprepared.  Mom and I laughed so hard at their misadventures. Oh, and also at Mary Ellen, the young girl they met on the trail - who walked super fast. Mom said that was me.

And on Mother's Day I took Mom to the nursery somewhere in Closter - the one you and Mom drove all over searching for it. Found it pretty easily this time and I got Mom petunias, tomato plants and several herbs for the garden.  Then we stopped at Closter Nature Center where Mom and I practiced for our planned adventure on Appalachian Trail - got to get Mom a set of walking sticks. :)

 

On Monday, we visited the gardens at van Saun Park. The colors were simply amazing and I think we could have stayed there all day just absorbing the colors and scent of the flowers.  

And here's Mom, sitting on a park bench - there's space for you. And she's thinking of you and how much you would love the gardens.  

And let's see, we also had dinner with Steve on Friday night - that was a blast!  We reminisced about high school days etc.  And Sunday, we had dinner with Steve, Roberta, and their kids.

And of course, we had to walk around Cooper's Pond at least once.  Which reminds me - I need to check when the museum is open so I can go with Mom the next time I'm down.  We'll take you on a tour of the museum, though I wish we had done it much sooner.

The final garden visit was Johnson Park in Tenafly. I hadn't been there since college, when Barbara would go over there to paint.  Mom found a new pet.  She was kind of sad, though as I wouldn't let her take it home.

Dad, we really miss you, but I'm glad I could spend the time with Mom and she was able to get out and enjoy herself somewhat. 

Love you always and ever,

Susan