Embrace it - whatever it is for you

I was going to write all about how great my weekend was, I even have the draft ready to go with pictures but after Monday, I didn't post it.  Like many others, I felt so confused, angry, sad, angry (it warrants being repeated) that I wasn't in the mood to be cheery about my great weekend.  Boston affected people in many different ways, I am no different.  Then we woke up this morning to the West disaster and it seemed like the hits just wouldn't stop coming.  I don't know anyone in West but drive through it on my way to Austin to see my family.  Everyone who has made that trek stops at the Czech Stop for kolaches...West is a vital part of the road trip.

This morning I posted the following on Facebook:  

"This week we all came together as a country in support of Boston and each other as we witnessed the tragedy of evil. As we woke this morning, we learned of a different kind of tragedy in West, Texas and again we all are coming together in support of the people of West. The endless capability of the human spirit to give, pray, support and come together is awe inspiring. Please hug your family a little tighter this week; tell your friends - even those you may have not seen in a while - how much you love and value them; take an extra moment to say 'hi', wave or smile at a stranger just because. We are one people despite the difference in our opinions, our beliefs, our heritage. God Bless everyone, my life is even more valuable because you are all in it."

and it hit me, here I am saying take a moment, remind people that you love them and enjoy life and I was not following my own advice.  I was keeping the lessons from my awesome weekend to myself.  I spent time with wonderful friends and family this weekend and I cannot let the terrors of this week steal that from us.

This weekend was jam packed from Friday night until Sunday night.  It was one of those weekends that you have so much going on that you forget about things like groceries or laundry (thanks honey!)...minor details.  However, it was an amazing weekend and if every weekend was like this one?  Well, that would be perfect.

We had rugby & baseball and once again, watching my boys do what they do brought me such peace.  Yes, they are two different kids and they both have different roles in their sport but they are both athletes in their own right.  Watching them embrace what they do?  Best use of my time - we could learn from them.  Go for your dreams and don't worry about the guy trying to slam into you or what people might think as you work on the book and analyze what works and what doesn't.

Saturday night was date night - something parents understand as a luxury that we don't often remember to take advantage of - at the auction.  The man and I met at an auction many years ago, and being a little bit of a cheesy girl, they mean a lot to me.  Even more fun?  I got to wear a fascinator come on (it was a KY Derby theme)...how is that not a perfect night?  

Sunday morning brought what many of my Sunday mornings do...race day!  It was my 8th half marathon and I finally got to run along White Rock Lake.   Even more exciting than spending my Sunday morning with the running girls, my cousin landed right as I was crossing the finish line.  I have many cousins, and since I moved away when I was young (and before most of them were born,) I don't get to see them often.  It was a special treat that she was in town for work so we took advantage of it.  

We started family funday at the horse races, my first trek out to the races here in Dallas and I can't wait to do it again.  Us ladies chose our horses based on names and spunk, the boys?  They had a super secret science to it.  We won't talk about who was more successful...:)

No trip to Dallas would be complete without a walk through Dealey Plaza, so the man gave us a first hand tour of what it was like that fateful day in November.  It is a different story when you have someone who was there telling it.  Even in that place, where tragedy struck so many years ago, we weren't on our guard, we were simply walking around enjoying the weather and each other.

The weekend closed out with a true Texas dinner - red meat.  If you have ever been to a Brazilian steakhouse, you know what I am talking about.  Now, I am not a huge eater but Sunday night?  I ate my weight in meat and didn't worry a bit. 

I loved spending time with my cousin, loved that my boys got to spend time with her and that we all had fun doing it.  I am sure there were stressful points in the weekend, but I don't remember them...I just remember having an amazing time with everyone. Laughing, cheering, loving, eating, drinking (it is what we do - we are Irish/Italian and you have to eat and drink for it to be a family event.)

Last weekend I got to spend precious time with my family and my friends.  I didn't worry about work, laundry, school, life, I just embraced the moment to spend time with those I love.  I need to learn to do that more often, life is too short my friends!  The laundry will be there, work will be there, school will be there, but times like these?  They won't always be around - enjoy them, embrace them, and while you are at it?  Embrace each other a little tighter; sometimes a fast horse, an auction, a plate of meat, a glass of wine, a walk through history is exactly what you need.  Run for your Roses this week...we certainly did this weekend.  And after the tragedies of this week, I think we can all use a little embrace.