Favorite Book of 2012

This is my reading spot! Tucked away in a corner of my bedroom with a view of the pool, I can read, organize my calendar or just take a nap! Keeping me comfy is this quilt I had made out of Mom's old t-shirts, mostly from road races but also just her favorite t-shirts, or tops and as you can see OSU is a dominant theme!

My mother was an avid reader, probably reading at least 1-2 books per week, she was speedy! Of course when she worked full time it was probably less but not by much!

This past year I have been on a reading KICK! For the past 6 years when I was coaching I really didn't have as much time to read other than magazines but after my coaching gig ended and Mom died I have been a regular visitor to the local library! No Kindle for me, I love to turn a page, to feel the book in my hands, the smell, everything! Every night in order to sleep I MUST read. Anything! If I am staying somewhere and Heaven forbid, have forgotten to bring a book, then anything will do, a catalogue even! But, I almost always have a book or magazine with me to read, even if it's just 10 minutes before falling asleep. Jim often finds me with the light on, book on my chest.

Not to be morbid, but that is how Dad found my Mom, in bed, asleep forever, book on her chest. I find comfort in that at least, knowing she was doing what she loved and it was just "her time". We should all be so lucky to pass to the next life so peacefully.

A couple of month's after Mom died and as summer approached, I read a few books on grieving and loss. Then through Oprah's Book Club Newsletter I heard about this book, "Wild", by Cheryl Strayed.  It was a wonderful, true story about her crazy idea to hike the Pacific Coast Trail, ALONE, with no experience as a hiker after the loss of her mother and a few years of self destruction.

So, "Wild", was my favorite book of 2012.  This year has started out strong with the following books: "The Twelve Tribes of Hattie", a great book about a black woman's struggle raising 12 children and their stories. "Saturday Night Widows", a true story written by a NYC journalist who became a widow too young and decided to start a group with other widows and wrote about it. I was inspired to read this because one of my best friends, Marylu lost her husband Bruce a few years ago way too young. Our children are the same age and I often think of her, in particular on Saturday nights, when she may be home alone. "The Last Runaway", a great book, maybe tied for favorite read of the year so far about a young woman set in 1850 who follows her older sister to America from England to marry and the sister dies before they reach their destination. Alone, and with no family, she must adapt. The book is set in Ohio, which was a route of slaves escaping to Canada and the young woman begins to help slaves run away. "Me, Before You", even though this book was predictable for me I enjoyed it very much and is one of my favorite books of the year. It's about a young woman who goes to work for a quadriplegic. My favorite book of 2013 so far is "Killing Kennedy". Mom read every book there was on JFK so I had to read it to honor her and it was very good, and suspenseful even though we know the outcome.

I have two more books from the library I'm about to start and about 3 more at the library. I go through phases where I read nothing but novels, fiction or non, then I get on health or mind/body kick and that is what I've got coming up next. I can't  believe I've never read Micheal P.'s book "The Omnivore's Dilemma so I'm anxious to start it and also one recommended by my friend Adi about ultra running and diet.

I always love to hear what friends are reading, I heard about Me Before You off FB from my friend Jennifer in Colorado, so please comment on your favorite books.  Happy Reading and thanks Mom for sharing your love of books with me!

Gift from Mom-1st Mother's Day 1984 after Jared was born!

Do One Thing a Day and Don't Feel Guilty About It

I posted this picture on Facebook this morning with the caption "My view while finishing my library book". I got some teasing remarks from my working friends which I knew I would and to be honest, I feel quite guilty most of the time about my cushy life. Anyway, that post was 4 hours ago and to my credit, I would normally be teaching a yoga class on Thursday mornings but classes got canceled due to  ice and snow so I figured I earned a lazy day. I did wake up later than normal, about 7:30 since I was up during the night watching and listening to the storm, couldn't go back to bed, then got up at 5:30 to check the school closings and when I saw that Edmond schools were closed I went back to bed and turned off my alarm. Jim also was sleeping in as he had no cases to get up early for today.

Needless to say, I have not touched that book yet today. I've cooked and cleaned breakfast, unloaded and disinfected the dishwashers, done two loads of laundry, cleaned cat hair off two sofas, mopped the laundry room floor, run on treadmill for 20 minutes, done my morning yoga stretches, made banana bread, showered and cleaned up, sent a few emails and FB messages and sat down and talked to Rox for a few before she left for work. And yet I still feel guilty! Kind of.

I worked two jobs while PG with first baby and then worked full time for about 5 years. No further comments necessary on that, everyone knows how damn hard it is to work full time and raise babies, especially with a husband who had a very stressful job, traveled a bit so basically I did it all.  I was finally able to quit my paying job when Rox born and Jared was 4. Thank God for Fitness Centers with nurseries, Church and Mother's Day out! These years were spent volunteering at all church activities and utilizing the Church nursery and the Gym nursery. I remember my mother telling me she joined a bowling league when I was little just to get away from me for a couple of hours a week to use the free nursery if you joined a league, and Mom hated bowling!

These years flew by and as the kids entered elementary school I of course, did my PTA, and homeroom mother duties. Then as the kids settled into Junior High, I found myself working concession stands, attending more PTA meetings, school board meetings, soccer matches, xc races, ballet recitals, football games, field trips, concerts, plays and carting the kids to various activities, helping with homework, etc. Again, I do realize how blessed I was as most women are doing this while holding down a full time job. I get it, I really do and I am very grateful Jim works as hard as he does to afford me to stay home all these years.

I did start teaching Yoga when Sam was a baby and for awhile I was teaching a LOT of classes. Then when Sam started running and entered Middle School, I was hired to be the Coach of his school Track and XC team and I did this for 6 years and LOVED it! I gave up most of my yoga classes, especially the evening classes and spent two hours every afternoon, plus all day Saturdays coaching. I really think I was good with young women especially and could have continued to do this for a long time but my contract was not renewed when Sam graduated. At first I was really upset. Mom had recently passed away and I was in a huge funk for several months. Then I remembered what Mom said when she retired from teaching. "I do one thing a day and don't feel guilty". I used to joke with her about it but now that I'm kind of "retired"myself I see what she means. Of course, I never worked as hard as my mom did, she worked full time when I started Jr high and quit at age 55. She also ran and did road races and was an avid reader, something I've picked up again now that I've got more time :)

So, Mom, I haven't figured out what my "one thing to do today" is, if it means leaving the house then I guess it will be going to yoga this evening when Jim gets home from work. For now, I'm finally going to finish that library book.