That heavy wind and whooshing noise
you here is fast paced life steaming towards the end of another year. Some try to tell me it is 20 below zero wind
called Minnesota weather. But I
know better.
My how it time has flown. I believe
as I age, each year goes faster.
When I was young, a year seemed like forever and now, a year is almost
like a week.
I’m not complaining, because life
is what we make of it and 2013 was a very poor effort. I’m not going to crow about stuff that
happened or whine about how my health suffered and left me struggling many
days. No, I am just going to say a loud ‘Thank You’ to all of you for being
part of my life and for your friendship and support.
The highlight of my 2013 was that I
was able to finish my 29th consecutive Grandma’s Marathon. I was a strange race with the fog so
bad, I missed a majority of the mile markers. But then, I found the race was easier not knowing where I
was and just kept pushing onward.
Picture below shows the conditions.
My effort on the working out and
miles on the bike was less than half the year before. In 2012, I recorded over 250 hours working out or exercising
and logged just under 3,000 miles on the bike. That averaged over 40 minutes each day and I thought that
was acceptable. But 2013 was
pathetic. I had just over 110
hours (average 18 minutes a day) and logged and less than 1,500 miles on the
bike. I need to find time for me.
Not to make excuses, but 2013 had
so many changes. I was promoted in
my job to a supervisory role in late 2012. With this came performance reviews and discipline. In 2013, it required letting a staff
member go for various simple things that they would not resolve. I also felt like I was not getting
anywhere personally. Self-pity
could be a reason.
I upgraded my camera equipment and
was pleased. I purchased a Nikon
D600 (Full Frame) camera, a Nikon 70-200 2.8 lens, a Tamron 10-24 3.5 and a
Nikon 50 1.4. I also picked up an
Epson R3000 and printed many pictures at home. Some of my favorite pictures are shown below.
Maybe passing 50 caused a moment of
reflection. As I look back, I made
many mistakes and know it is impossible to go back and change. I know my son is doing well and seems
happy. My ex-wife appears very
happy and that is wonderful. She
still is one of the best friends anyone could ever ask for and I often miss
that. Funny how when you marry a
friend, things change. She
deserves to be happy as she nears the mid 40’s in age. Things happen for a reason but as I
have written in the past, I am still search for some things that should have a
reason but I just do not understand.
I also spent a great deal of 2013
thinking about dear friends who passed way to soon. Hard to believe my nephew who died at three years old was
almost 25 years ago. I still morn
over the loss of Dana, my running partner and great friends in 2005 -2006
before she was killed in a bicycle accident. For some reason I still recall vividly the image of David
Prudlick (high school friend who was killed my senior year). I also think often of Cutis Arthur Almond,
the professor who believed in me and gave me the confidence to pursue my
graduate work. May they, and many
others, rest in piece.
I sincerely hope 2014 brings you
all good health and much, much happiness.
I know I will have to fight the fluid in the brain issue and the
recurring infection, which has really sidelined me recently. The Prednisone, Levaquin and other steroids
really play hell with me. At
times, I just want to give up.
Then I remember, that is not an admirable option.
After all, we’re here for a limited
amount of time that is not always a long time! Cherish your ability to go for a run and enjoy the
outdoors. As we age, those
wonderful experiences of not come easy.
But then if everything were easy, what would have to keep up going. It is the challenge and the success,
which makes it all rewarding.
I do not have goals for 2014. I know one thought is to enjoy my son
Graduating with his Masters Degree and then possibly riding bicycle from Denver
home. That is just less than 900 miles. Would be a real difficult ride, but one
that could be a lifetime of memories!
Happy New Year and Carry on my friends.