Chip has been my best friend for years. It was just the two of us in Alaska, with no family and I wanted a big one here so far from where we were from, so we had all these kids (5), and he was busy at the lumberyard everyday, all day, and I was at home holding down the fort and trying to write around the edges. We both relied on working-out to keep sane ( or as sane as we could be) and healthy– but mainly the daily run, hike, bike or swim was non-negotiable. When we lived above our lumberyard he’d run in the morning and come home at lunch so I could.
The only vacations we took required running a marathon.
We still work out every day, but we no longer tag team in order to watch the kids or get some work done. If you are a cyclist this will make you laugh: for the first few years we were road bikers we shared one bike. We only raced in the Kluane to Chilkat Bike Relay, and had a four person team in those days, so he rode first and I rode third, to give us time to adjust the bike. When I took a long training ride on the weekend he watched the kids, when he rode, I did. In the race, when he finished, we lowered the seat for me. Now we are able to ride together, and hike and hunt together, and since he is training for the Juneau IronMan in August– inspired by our daughter and son-in-law who are also entered again– swim together. I am not training for the IronMan. Since my accident in 2005, another marathon is not a goal. And you have to complete one after the two mile swim and the 100 plus mile cycle.
I won’t say that running long distances again is impossible. I bet I could if I really set my heart on it–but these days I calculate the risk-benefit factor on a sliding scale of pleasure-versus pain, of my time and temperment– and it’s just not worth it when I can do so many things comfortably to suffer in order to run again. Balance is a goal. It’s my choice. Anyway, Chip says he’s not a swimmer, but he is, and so we have been going to the pool together lately. After missing workouts for the last few days, with the house and making sure Caroline was up and fed at school on time, I was more than a little whacky, so I made sure we swam today. It was better because of the time away (you really don’t miss your water until … ) and I like having him in the lane next to me.
My friend Beth was amazed by the change in my mood when we walked the dogs in the slush and rain after breakfast. Yesterday she was kind of concerned. (Actually very. I was not finding the good.) Today, she said that I was new woman. “Swimming.” I explained. The breathing in and out. The water, and the effort that leaves a good kind of fatigue saved me, I told her.
We started out as dog walking friends. Now we know each other well enough that today she showed up at the place next door right when I needed some help making beds — ( the mattresses arrived– thanks to Scott and Candi at Miles’ Furniture. They had to go to Juneau and just returned.) The snow had turned to cold rain again. Slush and wind, water and mud. Oh dear. But Scott delivered them and helped haul them in.
After that, Beth peeled the cardboard off the stairs and pulled those pesky little bits of blue masking tape up.
It’s looks kind of daunting over there, but by this time tomorrow we should be good to go– Although I just realized that with two two year-old grand daughters in residence through December (Aussie Lila Chip and Alaskan Emilia Ann), we will need child-proof latches on all the cabinets and drawers in both places. “Christian can do that,” Chip said. “He’s a carpenter and he likes to be busy.”
