Day 943: 50 miles!

Hooray!  I reached my goal of 50 miles in 50 days!  I had to swim two miles today in order to meet the goal and the water was freezing at 68 degrees.  By the time I got out about 6:40, I was chilled, probably hypothermic.  After a warm shower, hot tea, pajamas, a fleece and a quilt, I felt warm again.

We had a lovely breakfast with our friends Roger and Elsie who are from Atlanta, Georgia.  They are in town for the Class of 64 reunion tomorrow.  Roger is one of the people who is responsible for Steve and me meeting back in December, 1970.  He and Steve always went out together to the bars.  Both were Vietnam vets and they spent a lot of time together after they were discharged.  Roger always bet Steve that no girls would dance with him cause he regularly got shot down.  On the night of Dec. 5, he again bet Steve that no one would dance with him, but I did!  And that was that!  We've been together ever since.  Probably, I have told this story before, but it always delights me!

I was again reminded how fortunate we are, and that I am especially blessed.  Roger and Elsie lost their son a few years ago in a motorcycle-car accident.   A truck hit him in an intersection when he had the right of way.  He left behind a wife and two small children.  Elsie also lost her sister two years ago to breast cancer and her remaining sister now has the same cancer.  She has been taking care of her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer's for at least ten years.  And there are many more deaths and health issues they have endured.  We've had our share of trials, but they have had far more than their share.

Today, I attended the wake for a classmate, a girl I grew up with on Chestnut Street.  She and her sister and I used to ride bikes up and down the street.  Their house was at the top of Risley St. hill, mid way between the school and my house.  One time, when we were coming down the hill, I fell off my bike and badly scraped my leg.  They took me to their house where their mom dressed my wounds.  My friend spent many years in institutions after high school.  I never knew exactly why, but her sisters said today that her  passing was a blessing.  How difficult their lives have been.

Each day, I give thanks for the good health of our beloved sons, April, Steve and my siblings   And I am incredibly grateful for my own health and strength to swim, walk, garden and hike whenever I want without pain.  Every day is so precious, we must make the best of each one.

Outrageous