Give me your fruit snacks

The best part of last week: Boyz II Men.

I was excited to go this concert but I didn't know how much screaming, dancing, and, frankly, acting like a teenage girl there would be. We pushed our way to the front and yes, I caught a rose. Yes, Shawn held my hand while singing... was it I'll Make Love To You?! *BUTTERFLIES!* I remember one evening in September 1990, Katie and Christina got to go to the New Kids On The Block concert and I had to stay home because I was "too little," they told me. I remember standing at the bay window watching the van back out of the driveway without me. I was stuck home with the boys. All that pain has finally been repaid. Hahaha! In all honesty, I was blown away with how good they still sound. They even pulled out some sweet dance moves. (I did take pictures but they are on my friends camera. I'll post them as soon as I get them.)


Next topic: 20 Miles

Can you believe I ran 20 miles yesterday? I slept like a rock last night but I have no soreness or stiffness today. That is amazing to me. I was dreading this run all Thursday and Friday. I knew I had to do it though so I could mentally find confidence when I was actually racing that I have covered at least a 20 mile distance. Not willing to try a different route in Salt Lake, I came down to Provo Canyon and went out and back (base to Vivian) twice. My first 12 miles were magic. I felt awesome; no fatigue, no tightness, no problems. But after 12, I started feeling a little tired. By mile 15, I was begging myself not to stop and trying whatever motivational techniques I could to keep going. At mile 17, I hit a wall of unforeseen strength. My legs felt like iron and my back was starting to cramp up. I felt my calves getting tight, like someone was pulling a rope around them. And a new sensation, I was ravishing hungry. So crazy hungry I couldn't believe it! I considered stopping mothers pushing strollers on the trail and demanding fruit snacks or crackers. Honestly, that went through my head as a real solution several times. I ran past campsites and thought about asking for some marshmallows... or a brisket sandwich. Anything!! But it wasn't to be. I basically staggered through the last three miles to the finish. However, the victory is that when I got out of bed this morning, I felt great! I still don't know how I'm going to run 26.2. I feel so under-prepared. I've been going through soooo much transition lately and maintaining my prescribed mileage hasn't happened. I'm grateful my roommate is running the race because it has kept me motivated.

Final words:

Life feels like a flurry of commotion these days. Work is so incredibly busy as we're developing our Fall 2011 collection. Everything is so fast paced! Some days I feel like my head is spinning. Between work, running, and trying to settle into my new place, I'm fairly exhausted. I understand better all the time what Jacob felt when he said, "our lives passed away like as it were a dream unto us." I was lying in bed last night thinking about the stages of my adult life. For me, each chapter has had a definitive beginning and end because I've moved so much. I thought about relationships at BYU and how dramatic those always felt. I remembered vividly my first few weeks in Texas (I was so high on expectation)... and then how it all happened that "the bottom fell out" and I left Texas. I remembered first arriving in California and the first time I met people who came to be very close friends. I recalled my first impressions and compared those impressions against what those people are to me today. And so now, as I begin a new chapter, I'm... "with high hopes and no predictions." I'm just taking in how the chapter is starting and knowing that in a few years, I'll look back and remember everything I'm feeling now. And perhaps, as I do now, I'll feel a little desirous to feel those things I once felt. New starts always feel good... and I've never been starting with so much behind me.