When my sister-in-law Cindy asked if I wanted to do a 5k this morning with a group from her gym, it sounded like a good idea.
I ran cross country and track through high school and college, and it became a huge part of my identity. I have kept running since then, but joint pain has slowed me down over the last couple of years. I miss running regularly. Even more, from my team running days, I miss running with a group.
I found out the run was at 5 a.m. Then, I learned we would need to leave The Compound at 4:45 a.m. to get there. I was awake all night, afraid my alarm wouldn’t go off. The three little boys all kept me company at one point or another, which didn’t help. Finally, after feeding the baby, it was 4:20 and I decided to just get up and get ready.
We left The Compound around 11 a.m. in two cars.
Despite many opportunities to join us, our oldest begged off. Roads here are narrow, winding, and frequently change elevation; even dramamine didn’t make a drive appealing to him.
We drove north to Castara, stopping along the way to see a little waterfall a short walk down a stairway, and just out of sight of the road.
(Photo Credit: Kimona Paramour Photography)
Like the trip to your destination, once you arrive, there are some things you can’t control. There may be days where the unfamiliar food is a thrill to everyone in your family…except one very unhappy person. Maybe everyone is ready to sleep except for the ones who need it the most.
As an adventure-loving homebody, I need a certain amount of familiarity to feel comfortable, and try to provide the same thing for the rest of the fam while we are away from home.
About 13 years ago on New Year’s Eve, after a difficult 16 months at a job I hated, I quit. That night, an unseasonably warm one in the 60’s, I went with a friend to Times Square for New Year’s.
We got there in the early evening. The crowds prevented us from getting close to the ball. It was barely visible from where we stood, crushed in the pack of people, breathing in the cool air, completely exhilarated. I felt such a freedom from the heavy weight of the job I had given up. The energy in the city was incredible.
I’ve read so many tips for easing travel with kids, and most of them involved mess or more work for the parents (individually wrapped gifts to be opened hourly on the flight, anyone?) And any parent knows that if your kid is having a certain kind of day, NOTHING you do is going to help.
With something like this, you just have to say a prayer and put on your game face.
