How do we - how do I - handle curve balls?

Today Spring rewarded our fair little city with freezing temperatures.  Yes, I know, some of you got snow. I live in Texas, if we got snow in April there might be mutiny and the city might shut down for a week just because they are angry.  Freezing temps in April after a 70 degree day; it got me thinking about curve balls and how this is Mother Nature's curve ball.  A silly little one that is easy to hit out of the park with a polar fleece and cute scarf.

I moved most of my childhood life.  For most of it, I was too young to realize that everyone didn't move as much as we did.  I remember moving from KY and being very sad; I remember being sad and angry every move after that.  I have blogged how mom would sing Run for the Roses.  I remember thinking that 'maybe this time we are staying put - we aren't going to move.' until my parents would tell us were moving to next state.  Tears would ensue, and not just from me as I remember crying with mom more than once - a moving curve ball.  One I hit with a song, new friends and a new address.

It is April 15th, and a year ago we mourned a terrorist attack on the Boston Marathon.  If you have read this blog at all, you know that I am a runner, a late blooming runner who usually enjoys the scenery than the speed, but a runner nonetheless.  I was watching the Boston Marathon last year and cheering for the victors.  Then, a short time later I got a text from my mom that someone had bombed the Boston Marathon.  I knew people (via Facebook so no, I have never shook their hand or hugged them but I still consider them a part of the running team) running the marathon.  I knew people who had families up there cheering and all we knew was something had happened and people where hurt.  I blogged about it two separate times (here and here). A curve ball - a much more serious curve ball than freezing temps or moving to be sure, but a curve ball for all of us.  A hard, fast curve ball.  Monday we will hit that curve out of the park with the 2014 Boston Marathon and between now and then, many of us will be running in honor of last year's event.  Nothing will stop us.

All of those are examples, albeit ranging in severity, of curve balls that aren't the most positive of experiences but we hit them.  I hit them - begrudgingly and after striking out first perhaps - but I hit them. (Yes, I know the cold & moving are NOTHING compared to Boston and I am not trying to compare them but it was a curve ball for all of us.)

What about good curves?  Sweet spot curve balls?  Well heck, I have plenty of those, they are home runs.

• New job with new responsibilities that open doors and allow me to meet new friends (from their spouse no less)
• New schools that led to life long friends (I sense a trend...)
• Going grey at 18 that led me to have fun with various shades of brown (this brunette does have more fun with friends...)
• Unhealthy check-up resulting in boot camps and running leading to amazing new friends (there is that friend trend again...)
• Being single again, resulting in going solo to an auction and meeting the Big Guy (ooo - love)
• The kiddo - greatest home run of my life

Moral of this disconnected blog?  Don't hate the curve ball, find a way to hit it out of the park even if it takes time or tears (or yelling, or punching of a heavy bag) first. Jackie Robinson didn't shy from the curve - step into the box and hit that curve.