Celebration of Life

"Whatever became of the moment when one first knew about death? There must have been one, a moment, in childhood when it first occurred to you that you don't go on forever. It must have been shattering - stamped into one's memory. And yet I can't remember it. It never occurred to me at all. What does one make of that? We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the words for it, before we know that there are words, out we come, bloodied and squalling with the knowledge that for all compasses in the world, there's only one direction and time is its only measure."
             - Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard

The circle of life has been an ever-present theme these last couple of months. Last weekend John and I attended a memorial service for the mother of our dear friend Nick Celeste. His mother, Ann, passed after suffering from terminal brain cancer for the past two or so years. The service was beautiful. It was filled with sunflowers, tears and memories - fit for the life of a strong, caring person. I am sad to report, however, this is not the only news of this ilk that has come to my attention. I do not take so kindly to report that over the past two or three months I've heard from friends of 6 deaths in various families - parents, uncles, grandparents - many significant people are slipping into an after-life, reincarnation, dust... whatever you believe in. 

Evidence of mortality is never easy to swallow. And to hear of so many passings in such a short period is a pill even more jagged. I suppose its time to face the fact this sort of news is going to become more common - we're getting older. Period. But instead of dwelling on the loss, we should celebrate life. At funerals in India they wear white, for they are not in mourning: rather, they are there to commemorate beautiful memories of a beautiful life of a beautiful person. Its a custom I really wish would be implemented here.

Considering all this, I think it prudent to take this opportunity to celebrate life as a whole - to implement a living memory: to live as we would like to be remembered... and to make those nagging changes we've been wanting to make. There can be an inspiring spark in even the bleakest of moments. And, really, our dearly departed wouldn't have it any other way, wouldn't you say? I mean, it's certainly not easy... figuring out who you are and how you want to live... striking balance among all aspects. I've been trying to do this.... trying to make some sort of mark or etch and create memories worth remembering. It's a life-long process, obviously, and I don't know if it's working (and who knows if I ever will), but I hope I'm making my loved ones proud. Because you all certainly make me proud.

On the Horizon

Welcome back, me. It's been a while. I've missed the clickity-clack of typing while the wheels are a-whirring in my head. Not much inspiration as of late, so I thought a simple update will do for now. I hope you feel the same.

First off, in my effort to do bigger and better things I've joined the team 60 Miles for Bust, captained by the darling Ivie. Her, I and three friends will join thousands of other women and men and we will all walk 60 miles over 3 days (Nov 18 - 20). Each footstep is aimed toward funding various breast cancer research and programs with a view toward putting a stop to breast cancer forever. Each of us has committed to raising a minimum of $2300 for the Susan G. Komen foundation. I've never raised so much nor have I ever walked so far, but I know the challenge will be well worth it. Here's hoping we will soon be in a world that's not only breast cancer free, but cancer free. It has to be possible. It WILL be possible.

In this regard I'm certainly increasing my footsteps, but I'm also trying to decrease my footprint. My environmental footprint that is. I'm doing my best to take reusable bags while shopping, take my reusable cup to starbucks, and recycle as much as I can. I've even taken to composting. We don't have a garden that we can use it for, but my roommate and I collect our compostable scraps in a tupperware we keep in the fridge, and once its filled up we walk behind the dumpsters in our parking lot and chuck the contents into the trees/dirt abutting the San Diego river. Although, I can only hope its actually being used to fertilize nature and that the raccoons and rats aren't eating the scraps instead. Well, I guess either way its being reused, right? On that note, Happy Earth Day!

My last update is more of a personal triumph. Last Sunday marked the completion of my second half-marathon, the La Jolla Half!  I started the race at the Del Mar fairgrounds like a clydesdale, climbed Torrey Pines hill like I was being threatened with a gun to my back, and crossed the finish line at a sprint encumbered by the greatest determination I've ever felt in my entire life. This course was ridiculousy hilly. I'd swear on my wedding video the course elevation map was inaccurate. I felt like I was running uphill for the first 10 miles! Well, I'm being dramatic, there were level portions of course, interspersed with hills. Whatever. Further, the elevation map represented the really big hill as only lasting about 1 mile, but I seriously think it lasted 3 (again, with some parts leveling out). At the end I decided that as I crossed the finish line I was going to raise up my arms and throw up both my middle fingers - straight and rigid - with a stern, fixed glare set toward the cameraman. I. Was. Livid. But instead I settled for angry sprinting, because, really, I never flip the bird, and that would just be awkward. Despite all that, I still beat my last half-marathon time by 4 minutes!!! I was hoping to surpass it by at least 5-6, but with all the hills and some walking, I'll take it! Next race to come is the AFC Half on Aug 21, upon the completion of which I'll be the proud honoree of the Triple Crown Medal. You're in my sights medal!!

That's it for the moment. Stay tuned friends. As always, thank you thank you thank you for indulging me by reading. And for now, I leave you with a totally unrelated, but nevertheless awesome, quote:

"I understand that Scissors can beat Paper, and I get how Rock can beat Scissors, but there's no freaking way Paper can beat Rock. Paper is supposed to magically wrap around Rock leaving it immobile? Why the heck can't paper do this to scissors? Forget Scissors, why can't Paper do this to people? Why aren't sheets of college-ruled notebook paper constantly suffocating students as they attempt to take notes in class? I'll tell you why, because Paper can't beat anybody. A rock would tear that shit up in 2 seconds. When I play Rock/Paper/Scissors, I always choose Rock. Then when somebody claims to have beaten me with their Paper I can punch them in the face with my already clenched fist and say, 'oh damn, I'm sorry, I thought paper would protect you, asshole.'"

         - Unknown