Being a Mom

My babies, 13 years ago:

Today:

This morning, it was BNI.

Then a chiropractic adjustment.

Thank you, Dr. Carr!

Then a two-hour drive to Phoenix, which had to include a stop to find replacement TOMS for Parry.

(since Giup ate her other pair.)

I stopped at ASU to drop off bins for Abbie, then headed to SpoFit for my tour.

It's amazing.  I am humbled and privileged to workout there in a few weeks.

Back to Manzy one last time to pick up my newly-a-college-sophomore daughter.

Our drive home took three hours, as we had to stop a few places, and got caught in early rush hour.  She's moving into her own apartment on Saturday; my broken hand prevents me from helping.  Instead we'll shop tomorrow, picking up the necessary odds and ends.  It's a new chapter I've looked forward to for years.

Abbie was a very difficult child, but a fairly easy teenager.  She has, however, wanted to be on her own since she was 15 months old.  It took her 18 more years, but here she is-embarking on adulthood.  I couldn't be more thrilled.

I don't crave the baby days, which I enjoyed thoroughly despite being a young widow.  I certainly wouldn't wish her demanding childhood on myself again; we made it through once only by the grace of God and a horse named Sam.

Century Oak Scimitar with his mistress.

So I'm supposed to pine for the past days of motherhood, wringing my hands that my baby has grown. 

I don't think so.

I like having a grown up daughter.  For one, she's much more fun.  

For another, she's in love with a boy.  And I am loving having a daughter who is in love.  For the first time, I am hearing her share her beliefs on love and marriage...and they match mine.  Why, you'd think she learned them at home from her still-married parents.

Will wonders ever cease?

Tomorrow, I'm letting the younger two play hooky from school to hang out with their sister.

Why ever not?

I think Nastee Dogs will be on the agenda.

Hard! It's hard!!

I really needed my Boxster today.

Not that I have one, but I plan on having one, so that's just as good as having one, right?

Anyhow, remember I hiked Little Granite last night?  

Century plants, so you know Dotty was with me.

Well, I remember leaning my very expensive, brand new trekking poles against the vehicle.  I did not, however, recall shortening them and putting them in the car.

Which meant maybe I forgot to?

Heading to the car this morning for BNI, I checked the backseat.  Backpack, boots...no poles.  My heart sunk.

I had sold these boots to get the poles.

Driving in to town, I weighed the chances of the poles still being in the parking lot.  We had left fifteen minutes before they closed the gates for the night; perhaps they were still there?  Glancing at the clock, I calculated how long of a detour it might be.  It was 6:37am, I was a minimum of 15 minutes out-or a half hour round trip, plus the remaining drive across town to BNI.  40 minutes, and be late for BNI (I was embarrassingly late last week) and maybe find my poles?

I became The Stig's female cousin.

Turning right, I hightailed it down Iron Springs Road.  At 6:43am I turned onto Granite Basin Rd, which is typically a leisurely 25mph 4 mile drive to the trailhead.

Not so today.

No star in a reasonably priced car would have beaten me.

Whipping into the trailhead parking, I immediately smile with glee.

My beloved poles, having laid there all night.

Letting out a whoop (and tossing my remaining coffee in the air, narrowly missing getting drenched) I leapt from the car, snapped that picture, tossed the poles in the back and sped back the way I'd come.

Cranking up the tunes, I flew down the road, only occasionally slowing due to the rising sun.  I waltzed into BNI at 7:07am, and regaled a friend with my tale.

I love starting the day on a high.

BNI (Business Networking International) is (duh) a business networking group.  Fortunately, our group is full of people with a great sense of humor, too.  7am on Thursday's is usually full of laughs, but today was exceptionally fun.  Lucille was my table mate, and I was sad that my beautiful Pilates journey with her was almost over.

She even let me rest yesterday!

Next week I have to go elsewhere; my two lined-up facilities on deck are both in PV.

Prescott Valley, for those of you not around here.

It's a long drive from my house.

He's baaaaaaack!

Let's just say the five-day line up of classes (ranging from Zumba to Booty Barre and beyond) scare the crap out of me.

These classes may be fun for the coordinated, but coordinated I am not!

Perhaps I exaggerate; I can put on shoes, and hike.  Is that coordinated?

Last time I did classes, I felt like sore jello.  I am quite reluctant to do them again, but I need to know:

Does being fitter make a difference?

Today, Becky and I hiked Thumb Butte.

Steep side smiles!

She had twisted her ankle during our Flume hike weeks ago; this was our first outing since.  

We did the steep side; I not only managed to hold a conversation the entire time, but the air monster was a no show.

Fitness, I am finding, is an interesting Quest.  I wonder what I'll discover next?