The Last Lecture

Have you read The Last Lecture? Maybe you saw it on youtube or on Oprah, like myself. Well, Randy Pausch, the author of that lecture has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. When I first heard his lecture I thought, wow, he is so right on. Tonight I watched a special on his life. Of course, I cried through most of it. So many things stand out to me and I am sure they will be with me forever. But there was one thing that really hit home with me. He said that of all of the big things that he wanted to do with his life, he should have already done them. It was all of the little moments with his children, the love and the laughter, that was his real bucket list. How true is that statement. It doesn't matter if you have scaled the tallest mountain or gone on an African safari. Hearing the uninhibited laughter of your children is the most amazing thing you can experience in your life. You just need to be in that moment and let you children know you are in that moment. I never thought I would be so touched by the words of someone I hadn't met. His words make me want to be a better person. To laugh more often, live life more fully and to love more passionately. He had so much peace about the whole thing. He didn't like the hand he was dealt, but he accepted it. He came to peace with it. I need to find that peace. Maybe the whole world needs to find that peace. Every single one of us has something we battle deep within ourselves. We need to single it out, embrace it and accept it. If you haven't heard his words, you need to take the time to do so.

Things I Have Learned This Week

I don't get a chance to write as often as I used to. Now that school is out, the girls are keeping me really busy. I am still quite tired. I seem to be dragging my butt most of the time, which means I am not training like I should be for the big walk! Anyway, I thought I would take the time to list the things that I have learned this week. 1) I can walk 6 miles without dying; 2) I sometimes need an alcoholic beverage to be a good parent; 3) hot flashes suck; 4) swim diapers don't hold a lot of pee; 5) I sometimes need an alcoholic beverage to be a good parent 6) my kids can never release all of their energy, they must have reserves; 7) it is too hot to go to the fair in the afternoon; 8) I love John Mayer more than you; 9) I sometimes need an alcoholic beverage to be a good parent; 10) oh, and Carina is tall enough to put one foot in the toilet!

The attached picture is of me and Gail Serene and Sherri Stoddard. Three of the Hags and Heroes. We participated in the Brian Waterbury Memorial Walk. It was a six mile walk from Morro Rock to the Cayucos Pier. These girls have really been there for me this last year. Not only do I have the honor of working with them, I also have the honor of being their friend. They have seen me at my worst and still loved me! I couldn't do this walk without their participation and their encouragement. I am looking forward to spending more time with them hitting the pavement (or the sand!).

I hate legos. You know, the little toys that snap together to create one big jumbled mess that is supposed to look like a submarine? Yeah, those. Do you know how bad they hurt when you step on them barefoot? And the little ones are the worst. I swear, just when you think they are all picked up, you step on another one! It's like they are multiplying!

I have also learned to hate roller skates. That is mainly because Carina thinks she can wear them just like her sister. I found her in them today and caught her right before she fell. She doesn't need any more gashes on her body. She split open her chin at Grammy's house last weekend and earlier today she took a header off of the step stool and fell into her toy closet. The result was a scratch on her chest and skinned knees. Oh, lets not forget the black eye she will probably have when she wakes up because she rode the scooter into the corner of the table on the back patio. Now that I think about it, she probably shouldn't go to daycare tomorrow.

One thing I love is being an Auntie. Alby and Krisiey are expecting their second daughter any day now. I am so excited for their baby to come and I can't wait to get up to Portland to see her and to spoil my niece Alex. Alex may need a little extra love from Tia. Speaking of Krisiey, she is part of my Hags and Heroes team. First of all, she is crazy because she is pregnant and can't train (not like we are actually training yet). Secondly, she will probably have to pack a frickin breast pump to take to camp that week. I just had a visual and that is funny. I am so excited to have her on my team. She has been such a support and a sounding board for me these last few years. It seems like we are always laid up at the same time. When I was pregnant for Carina and put on bed rest during my last few months, she was pregnant at the same time. Now, I am on leave from work again and she is pregnant again. It gives us a lot of time to chat. She and Alb were with me when I had my mastectomy and it meant so much to have them travel to be there. I will never forget my niece walking in the room with her pink ribbon shirt on that read "I wear pink for my Auntie." That was beautiful to me. Some of the worst crises in our lives brings out the most beauty. Anyway, I love Kris like a sis. I can't wait to take these steps with her (and watch her blow the camp away with her karaoke!).