During the summer of 1993, when I was 14, I was training for a spot on the high school cross country team. I had survived an abysmal ninth-grade track season and was determined to leave the foibles and failures of junior high athletics behind me. So nearly every day I pounded the pavement, coaxing my body into shape. I ran and ran and ran and ran.
I ran past the homes full of kids that I babysat on the weekends. This house had the best food, this family paid the best, these kids drove me crazy. I ran past the home of the boy I liked, hoping he'd happen to look out his window as I sprinted by. I ran past the park where I played softball with the girls from church, past the home of the Young Women leader who always loaned me books to read. I ran past the home of my seminary teacher who later became a General Authority. I ran around eight neighborhood cul-de-sacs, trying to increase distance without really going anywhere. And I always (always) sprinted down El Moro, the last stretch of street before home.
In August that year I made the cross country team. In fact, I spent three years as a varsity runner for Mesa High. Those years cemented my love for running, and my happiest high school memories came from cross country. All of that began on the running route I retraced today.
This morning I walked through that neighborhood a different person. My figure is much rounder and softer and my mile time is roughly double what it was in 1993. I pushed two squirmy tow-heads in the stroller, managed drinks, and answered Gavin's endless questions. I thought fondly of my older boys who could have been zooming on scooters up ahead. Now I'm the mom paying a babysitter and wondering how I got so old.
Sometimes I long for the simple days (and size 4 figure) of my teenage self. But this life--here, today, right now--is pretty good, too.
9 comments:
And someday, you'll long for THESE good old days! I love your insight. Thanks for this post. It made me go back in time too. Although my high school days were different than yours, it gives me perspective!
What a beautiful photo! Things definitely do change. Whenever I eat an onion bagel I am transported back to high school, my 15-year-old self (I used to go to a particular coffee house and always have an onion bagel with cream cheese and a tomato on top). Funny how visceral these things can be!
Oh, the good old CC days. I love this post and love reading your blog. We need to get together sometime.
Glad to hear how things are going in Arizona. We miss you! I'm sorry to hear about Gavin's mysterious rash. Has he gotten better? I think if you mentioned "purple rash" to the nurse I know why she might have directed you to the ER. There are a couple of things that can cause a purple rash or purple spots, and some are life threatening, such as meningitis or a disease that has to do with your blood not clotting properly. These are extreme, but she was probably being safe. Did you ever call back to ask?
how fun to get to experience it with your kids now. I walked past my old house a few months ago and had deja vu of riding my power wheels around the cul de sac. Such great times.
btw, you really do have such a gift with writing heidi! :)
It is fun to run down memory lane and then walk back into your current life and realize they are both good. Love you.
love this post! i can definitely relate.
also: *cute, cute kiddos......
Ah...lots of reflection! Having a kid leave for college makes me lonesome for the stroller days. I think there is great value in 'remembering'! Thanks for reminding me! ;)
Crosscountry is amazing and I would like you to know I was only in high school 2 years ago and my mile time has come close to doubling already!!! PS yours kids are adorable!
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