New Beginnings

Today is Independence Day, July 4th, the birthdate of my great country. So I find it only fitting to talk about starting over and new beginnings.

I haven't posted in quite some time. I always try to take some time off after a big race and focus on my family. So after the OKC Memorial, I took some time off from runHers and sort of running in general. I wanted to rededicate myself to my family. And then all hell broke loose. I have had some scary days in my life. The day my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The day my daughter was born. The day the doctor said that my husband may have a brain tumor. But May 20th was the scariest day of my life to date.

I had went home early sick, but because of the weather went ahead and picked the kids up from school. We were at the house when the weatherman said to get the hell out of there. Grabbed the kids, the dogs, and the important papers and took off. I was on the highway headed north when it hit my neighborhood. By the time that I got to the shelter that we usually go to, they were showing my area on tv and I knew that my house was gone. My sister's first words to me where "Sissy, you don't have a house." Miraculously, I do have a house. Half a block more to the south and I would not. Half of my neighborhood is gone. Friends homes are gone. Our park is gone. But we have a house.


Entrance to our neighborhood

We had some structural damage and lost all of our fence and trees. But we were lucky. I know people are probably tired of hearing about this, but I need to say it. I haven't had a time to mourn. Mourn for my neighbors, my friends, my city, my state. My husband was sent out of town for work three days after the first storm. I had to handle everything on my own. Then the next storms hit, affecting a huge part of the state and hitting my house again, my city, my parent's house. And me. I was in my car with the kids and the hubs, who thank goodness was back for the weekend. And we were hit by a tornado in our car. It scooted us a little and the wind and flooding that followed ripped my wheelwells off of my Jeep. How we weren't washed away I have no idea.

Hubs is back out of town. We are fighting with insurance company and still doing repairs. Tball season has started and I am coaching this year. We are spending 4 nights a week at the ball field. I have 2 kids to take care of. I don't have time to think let alone mourn.

While repairs are being made, my bestest furbaby gets out and has been missing for over a week now. Every day I look for him and wait for that dreaded phone call, but nothing.

So today, my hubs (who's home for the holiday) suggested, nay, pushed me out the door to run. I haven't run in almost 2 months. It was a horrible run. Slow and sad. I hurt in places I forgot that I could hurt. But it felt like a new beginning. Like cleaning a slate. I got to mourn while I ran. But instead of cry, I sweat out my grief. I feel lighter. So here's to a Happy and Safe Holiday! I hope it is so for everyone. Much Love to you all!

Thank you to all the amazing volunteers that have helped get my city on the road to recovery.

Peace, Love, and New Beginnings.