MY LINCOLN MARATHON HERO MAY 2009

YOU ARE AMAZING AND INSPIRING CO!

Monday. Whew! This weekend was inspiring and full. I traveled nearly 500 miles to be part of the support team for Co, who was running in the Lincoln Marathon 2009, held Sunday in Lincoln, Nebraska. She ran the half marathon, 13+ miles! In picture up above caught the clock before and after she ran by. However, didn't catch exact moment she crossed line. Co called a few days later when she recieved her recorded time: 2 hr and 18 min....WOW!

I am in awe of her accomplishment and had so much fun in the chase vehicle with her husband and two of her sons. This is an amazing family to me. In the 36+ years I've known Co, I've witnessed her love and commitment to her family and am moved by her loyalty and growth over these years. I was equally honored that day to be part of her family support team and to show my commitment and respect for her and our many years of friendship! I don't do this often enough and it shames me to admit it. What makes our friendship enduring is found in the fact that I know she forgives me. I need to be close to those kind of people...the forgiving ones...because I tend to do a heap of things that need forgiven! Now, those who know me....like my kids, who are all grown up, know that I have gone through many changes in my life path. I'm not who I use to be. I'm better everyday and I got a ways to go to get to my best. Co and her family are a big part of my life path to become more than I could ever be without them!

So, as part of the family, a family of very conservative folks, most of 'em anyway. If you click on picture above of family & me, it'll be easy to pick out the conservative ones! :) Anyway, my job was to embarass or inspire her, depending on how she perceived it, by cheering her on. I am very good at cheering and so right out the chute I was a hollering, whistling and screaming out in THAT voice........

(the same voice I used when the kids were little and would disappear in the store expecting me to play hide and seek but when ready to leave, and already exhausted from trying to find them lil burgers (!), I'd just march to the front of the store and announce my departure, nameing the lil critters that expected a ride and throwing in a warning that I would drive away without them...all without the aide of a microphone. Yes, those mortified lil burgers would come running, knowing I very well would have driven off and made them walk home. That was more than a 6 mile walk! Geez, now-a-days, I'd be turned in, probably with some video feed from the store shown across the country with a news report refering to the crazy, child abuser!)

....THAT voice bellowed what ever came to mind and I'd like to take this moment, Co, should you ever read this... to apologize for THAT voice and what ever came out that may have embarassed you, dear friend. Oh, and I'm saying sorry for anything I may yell in future cheering sessions. However, I'll never stop cheering on those dear to my heart just because I might blooper my calls! You, dear friend, know that most everything that comes out of MY mouth seems to be a blooper. What many determined was due to my blonde hair are now wondering if I just might be 'special'. What? What was that you are muttering?

Yes, I'm inspired to start taking better care of myself so I can be around a bit longer to pursue my best and to go on many more of these support team adventures with friends! Inspired....but 13 miles? Maybe next year I'll jog/walk a half of a half with my friend Co and let everyone else embarass and inspire us on. Maybe. Guess I better start training now huh?

AND THE LOST FIND EACH OTHER

FINALLY! When Mark died a year ago, it catapulted us into a rush of plans, mistakes (I didn't have Mark's birthday correct in the Keith Co News obituary!), and trying to contact everyone. I had to leave some names off the quickly published obituary in Ogallala because I couldn't get information needed before it went to print.

We did all the planning and all arrangements with out the help of a mortuary. They assisted us in caring for Mark but we picked him up from the home and the rest was on us. I learned from this experience that the help of a trusted mortuary can lighten the grieving load tremendously!!! It is now my prayer to get my preparations completed soon, so my loved ones never go through the stress we experienced in losing Mark before we were ready. I will stop using the excuse...is anyone ever ready!

ANYWAY....losing Mark was hard enough, and added to our grief was the inability to connect and locate all of his children. So, finally, Tonya found Momma Sue on MySpace this week and yesterday, she and I had our first phone call in more than 7 years. It was very emotional for this Aunt Sandy, and I agree with Momma Sue's posting on Facebook, "Thank You, Lord!"

MARK YOU CAME FULL CIRCLE FROM THE SOUTH

A fence line blocks the free roam, we youths of yesteryears had of the sandhills of Nebraska. So it was, that day in April of 2008, when we watched you, Mark, taken away on the wind of an impending spring storm, intermingled with rose petals all swirling together...up, up,.......WHOSH! Aside, from the strong wind, it was, for me, a most awesome experience. Aside, from the sadness of heart, it was a powerful closing on a life full of turbulance and extremes....a life that touched many!

There, looking South, the fence, the post....there's Sue's rose, dried to the most deep red. It would eventually succomb to the elements, like the wind...or maybe you, Mark?

One can catch glimpses of the small town of Paxton and looking off in the farthest Southernly direction, one would find Imperial, though too far to see. Paxton was our 1st true hometown in Nebraska, wasn't it Mark? And where we laid claim to the sandhills and Platte Rivers as a temporary playground. So, what drew you to Imperial?

Only you and Sue know the stories of Imperial and those special memories are, now, only for her telling. How we came to gather in Imperial to remember you, is a fascinating adventure in itself...but not one for the telling today. No, the main reason we were in Imperial was because Mom was in the nursing home there. It wasn't until family was gathering that I learned that your romance with Sue included Imperial.

In fact, before the Celebration (since you requested no funeral), Sue took you, wrapped like the gift you were in red wrap with Nebraska Football stickers, for one last journey around the old haunts, belonging to the two of you. Funny too, cuz if it had been a funeral...you'd of fulfilled any confrontation of being late to your own funeral! When you hadn't arrived after most had gathered, I had to call your wife and ask when you'd finally be arriving. A cause for a smile now since I wasn't smiling then. God works in mysterious ways! The circle was complete.

Look to the South, Mark...to Imperial where the Church of Christ opened thier doors and hearts for us to gather and celebrate your life! Look to the South, Mark...to Paxton, where we met in the home of Aunt Grace and Uncle Al! You would have been so moved by thier hospitality, feeding the troops and giving of themselves in such a loving way and on a moments notice! Oh, and Mark, they even climbed Windy Gap with about fifty of us and shared an experience that moved nearly all of us to tears!

Look, in all the directions from this chosen vantage point, Mark. See the memories in every vista and listen for our love and forgiveness on the wind.

MARK, LOOK EAST AND KNOW HOME

From each vantage point of Windy Gap, you can see what became. A boy of eight, trekked all over these sandhills, playing games and looking out at such awesome vistas. Here to the East, a boy of eight would not have seen the Gerald Gentleman Plant off in the distance, or ever dreamed of working there. It hadn't been built yet. He would have stood here and thought he could see to the end of the earth! Still, when this eight year old became a young man in his late 20's, he worked during GGS shutdowns. Didn't stay to be hired as a regular as this wasn't his destiny. No, his destiny was further East.

Further East,
but not easily seen,
paths to the lives of many.
East became home.
Others have the stories,
only they can tell.
Stories of Mark,
both dark and light.
Every path encounters shadows,
all must learn to pass,
and chose those paths,
of fewer shadows,
and more awesome vistas.