Quote of the Day: “What our deepest self craves is not mere enjoyment, but some supreme purpose that will enlist all our powers and give unity and direction to our life.” Henry J. Golding
Today I met Sue B., Lori, Jill, and Teri, they had already run 4 miles, and we went north from the center of Holladay toward the University of Utah. I started the morning not knowing how many miles I would log. I had been struck, literally, by the stomach flu a few days before and was certainly weak. It was in the first block that I realized that I would be walking a lot more than running today and that is what it turned out to be. The morning was beautiful and I got to see how many flowers, bushes and trees were blooming, forsythia, magnolia trees, even one of my favorite ground covers, brunnera. I was grateful that my friends ran ahead and I lagged behind, content with my thoughts, without my music. I love how exercise makes you work through all the issues of your life and really don’t we all have so many issues? I can’t think that I am that different from most people. If this aspect of my life is perfect, well than another is out of whack and it goes on and on like that. I mean, I have lived for 53 years and still I am waiting for life to be perfect. Wouldn’t it make more sense that I should be waiting for trouble to appear? But in that is some of the beauty of the human spirit, we have hope and belief that we are meant to have joy.
Sue B. made a comment as we were getting into our cars at the end of our run. She said that so many of our friends will be coming to Ogden to run or walk the marathon and half-marathon in May. She said it was because they want to support me in this marathon and all the sudden I got this scared feeling, this feeling of pressure not to fail. And just as quickly, I was overcome with this feeling of support, that we are all in this together to see each other through the difficult times, to hold each other up when one needs support, but also, to be there in the happy times as if to give proper thanks when times are good.
Last week on Thursday, we made it a family event to head to the City Creek opening. We, Mary, Nate, Maggie, Kate, Elle, Mike, Alex, Joe and I, met at Este Pizza downtown and then Mary headed off to work, Mike and Elle to homework while the rest of us went to see what it was all about. It is an amazing site, every paver, rock, water-feature, light fixture reflects beauty. One of my favorite parts is the large outdoor fireplace with a beautiful inscription about the water flowing forth from the mountains etched in stone around the mantle. There was the most beautiful music moving through the crowds of people, the deep sound of the solo cello, and then Maggie spotted a beautiful girl playing the violin. She watched intently and the girl bent down to show her how she played, she asked Maggie’s age and told her she started playing at age 5.
When we got to the water fountains, Maggie and Kate couldn’t resist going in and we couldn’t pull them away. It was an unusually warm night for March, the cloud covering helped. Maggie found herself in the middle of the sprouting water coming out of the ground. What brillance, making these public places so children friendly. I watched Maggie as she danced around as the water made a rhythm of its own, truly carefree. Katesy stood on the edge and then started to make her way in until a burst of water caused her to retreat.
It was a lovely way to complete a difficult year. What means more than standing there among my family watching my granddaughters experience life in such a lovely way?
Maggie enjoying the fountains!
City Creek Opening, Joanie, Maggie and Kate
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