Yesterday you just smiled at me

A big day - Alex turns 22, the Flyers play SLU, I am starting a fun week in Oregon (it is nice to be able to work from everywhere when you are morning person so time zones aren't scary), and it was 1 mile benchmark day. While not nearly as exciting as Alex turning 22 (did you see the baby pic? oh yes, I did post it on his wall so all his friends could enjoy it too - you should check it out), the thought of a mile benchmark got my heart racing and BP up - just like the thought of labor, all 2 days of it, did 22 year ago.

Let's add to the fun, like I do, and leave the state and comfort of my home OrangeTheory Murphy studio for the benchmark. After much convincing from the incredible Teresa & Stephanie, I swallowed (pushed down in places we push things down to) my fear and went to the studio this morning for my benchmark alone. But wait - what is this? A note waiting for me in West Linn OTF?

In a way only the Barenaked Ladies can, Teresa & Stephanie sent me a note to keep me motivated and on track (literally, let's remember I have fallen off a tread more than once) for my benchmark!!!

I did not cry, there is no evidence I even teared up, and knew I could do my mile. All I had to do was not fall off the tread and match my last time. Well, I did not fall off the tread since July 10th through 6 months of hip issues, 3 months of rehab therapy exercises, 3 weeks of 100% rest time on various beaches, and on 5 hours of sleep after a 4 hour flight, I cut 18 seconds off my mile time. 8:23 is now mine.

I have to tell you, yesterday I posted about how amazing people are, today was further proof. Andrea cheered on our crew at home while not being able to workout herself; Teresa & Stephanie cheered me on from afar; the front desk crew at the West Linn location cheered me on & said to pass the cheers along to our Murphy studio for being so awesome; sometimes people make life hard but really? People ROCK. Thank you to all in my life who make this journey fun. And thank you for reading all of this - now Harrison Ford is getting Frantic, I look like Hot Wasabi when I bust a rhyme, and, let's go folks, Get it together and come back and see me! 💪🤜🤛🧡

The sparkle was there and the fox was too...

What did the adventures of the weekend bring? It is hard to even know where to start. It was a weekend of family, fun, memories, laughter and tears. It was watching the seasons change and corn grow. There was a fox, a song, and a glimmer in more than one young girl's eyes. There was dancing - oh my goodness, was there dancing. And did I mention our ever growing family?

Over the years, as our family grew, we also grew literally apart. There are different cities and different states (there were different countries but not for now). My cousins, some of whom I still see as little kids, are grown and getting married, they have children of their own now. Never mind the fact that I have two boys in college. My cousins have grown into amazing men and women, even if we still are all kids inside - we come by it honestly, our parents are still kids too.

This weekend I was back in Bel Air, a small city that I called home for many years even if we didn't live there. Today, I walked down the John Carroll path next to what will always be my Grandma and Grandpa's house in my mind. It will always have green shag carpet in the family room and pink tile upstairs. Yup, it is why I want a shag carpet in my office. Bill was with me as we walked down the path, as I looked into the now fenced backyard and the memories came flooding back; I swear I heard my Uncle Gary telling me that I was going to be in trouble for planting a tree in Grandpa's garden. I saw Grandma at the table cleaning oranges, putting away what seemed like 100 dozen Christmas cookies and 365 chicken breasts. I heard Grandpa calling me from his big chair because Fraggle Rock was on HBO. I saw my Mom walking downstairs in rollers and Little Joy coming up the path in her uniform. I heard Uncle Tim & Uncle Scott on the front porch drinking beer and Alex curled up sleeping on the carpet as the family all walked around him. As we crossed into the JC property, I saw Brian teaching Alex to skate on the pond - a pond that now has a No Skating (or doing anything else) sign. I saw my daddy and brother running around. I told Bill about the cat tails that we used to pick and blow apart, and the nuns that would be walking around campus. I looked back at 508 and I shed a tear or two because of the fond memories, I laughed while they flowed remembering the amazing times that I hadn't thought about in so many years.

The walk down memory lane wasn't what the weekend was about though, the weekend was about my cousin Brian - who is still a kid in my mind - marrying the beautiful Jessica. The family came together at St. Mary's to celebrate their marriage before God, and then to party with them. I got to meet, and spend time with my cousin's kiddos - 4 daughters and 1 son between 2 of them! They - the little girls of course - played with my purse, as I am sure I did with my aunts' purses years ago. I introduced one of them to glitter lip gloss - I am sure her mom will thank me later - okay, maybe not thank but I am the oldest so I get to have some fun. They all learned that when Great Aunt Maria and Erin ask them to dance, the only answer is yes. The girl's eyes sparkled so much as they twirled around the dance floor I could see my Grandmother in them laughing. I taught one of them a line dance, I cannot wait to teach them all so many more. The lone boy talked basketball as I tried to convince him to go see Alex at Dayton; poor kid, only boy in a girl dominated family right now - he gets a medal for the weekend. Mom lifted the girls up on an old tractor and it became a chariot, Daddy took them to meet the horses and they became their friends. The cousins, myself included, all laughed as we remembered how my Mom, their Aunt Maria, used to do the same with us. Jessica, my newest cousin, looked like a princess and took our breath away as she twirled around the dance floor, and when her dad sang to her? Forget it, not a dry eye in the room. We knew Brian found his match, he lit up as she entered his sight - she is now our cousin and will never get away without sparkling and dancing. And while most of us had not seen each other in far too long, it was like we had never left. I even got my cousin Joey to dance - maybe I do have a lot of Mom in me. Oh, and the fox. As we walked down the hill to the barn I saw a red fox run across the field and knew that Big Joy was standing next to Grandma in heaven smiling down at all of us so proud that we were together as a family once again. No doubt Unkie and Grandpa were there looking down saying 'Those damned kids' and smiling too.

The rest of the weekend was spending time with family, in small groups over crab and large ones at the pub with crab. The cousins listened to old stories and we talked about getting together to make new ones. Lots of drinks were drank and plans were made then changed so we could all have one last breakfast together before heading our separate ways. Did I mention eating crab? Crab dip, crab cakes, crab pretzels and let's not forget Bill's first steamed crab experience. I may have gotten enough to last me a month, okay a week. Okay, a few days. I better get more Old Bay.

I hadn't blogged in a while, no reason why as life brings new reasons to everyday, I just hadn't. After this family weekend I was ready to write again. The love, new and old, the family, new and old (no I am not calling you old Mom), reminded me how very lucky I am to be a Reilly. How very lucky I am that I have a family that picks up where it left off, no matter how long it has been. How very lucky I am to have words to capture all the joy that started many years ago at a house we called home on Linwood Avenue.

Oh and I did I mention we all got to celebrate Mom's birthday together? No? Well that's because I forgot that too. Daughter of the year award, but I think she might forgive me as I willingly let her hold the newest cousin. Okay, maybe I tried to run away with the angel in my arms and Mom caught me but it's my story so whatever.

Here's to the Reilly family - whether by blood or by love, whether your name is Reilly or not - once you join our clan, there is no getting out and we are so glad you are here. Now, go fish in the pond and dance to the music because no sign, or lack of power, is going to stop us.

They inspire me

Today has been one of those days.  People are being horrible to one another, without full knowledge, without understanding, without tolerance.  Glass houses are being shattered without thought, without care about emotions, without facts.

This all scares me.  Worse, this makes me sad.

I am a passionate person, so things effect me more than they should and I acknowledge that.  I lean towards the dramatic, it is what it is.  I could apologize for it, but I can't change it as that would be changing who I am!

Today I was sad, I was worried, I was drained actually, then I went outside to get my mail.  That is when God reminded me how great our country is.  In my cul-de-sac the kids were playing life sized PacMan.  The girls and boys played together; the preteens and the elementary school kids; the Christians and the Muslims.  When they noticed me, one of the girls ran over and sat with me and the dogs and talked about her day, talked about how excited she was as her brother had a concert at school.  Her eyes were sparkling, she was so excited to support her family.  Then the other kids noticed the dogs and gave me a huge group hug before chasing their furry friends around.  It was at that point that the two little girls told me they thought my tree was inspirational.  Why?  Because the tree had to be chopped down quite drastically because half of it had fallen in the yard.  Well now, on top of the cut thick limbs, little green leaves have started to sprout.  The girls said it shows that even the dead looking stuff can regrow and that they would keep growing.  Then back to cuddling with the furry friends leaving me with a warm heart and a smile.

Y'all - remember when we were kids and played life sized PacMan with our friends no matter what they believed?  Remember when it was as easy as running around and putting cards in the spokes of our bike wheels or chasing the neighborhood dogs?  Get back to that, and get back to remembering that sometimes a tree can inspire you to keep growing.  Give the little kids a chance to inspire you, their innocence shows wisdom beyond their years.

Life in a small town - and the live stock that think we are crazy

I often say that I live out in the country, and compared to the 'city' I use to live in, I do.  However, compared to real country living, I do not.  Regardless, I treasure our 'small town' country days.

Today my lungs decided a simple 5k should become a battle of wits, the lungs won.  Now all of you grousing need to relax, I know and agree that a 5k is not simple but this was not timed and I got to run it in step with Nikki and in the crowd with other friends, so that makes it simpler as we always have fun and kick 5k butt. That is not the point so breathe which I couldn't so it's kind of ironic for me to tell you too.  It was in the town next to us, a city in this case but still a quiet suburb city with great trees and rolling Texas hills.  Which also are sneaky and mean.

Downtown Wylie...

Murphy City Hall

After the longest and worst 3.1 miles ever, the Big Guy and I decided to have breakfast in downtown Wylie, the very picture of a small town downtown you can find in any movie about Texas.  The flags were flying up and down the streets, the kids were running around, the antique stores were open,  and we, along with everyone else, were waiting for a table at Ballard Street Cafe.  As we ate, I was reminded how much I like the cafe.  There are football jerseys on the wall, old photos of townsfolk, and a chalk board announcing the fresh made pies for the day.  The dry erase board proud bragged about the Daily Breakfast Special (I always get it as I am a sucker for corned beef hash and sunny side up eggs - well, the yolk anyway), a special that has not changed in all the years we have been eating there.  That regularity, the old time decor, the AMHO football jerseys, all of it are comforting.  The chandelier that hangs in the middle to the room?  Well, that is just like Bill and I, a little country and a little sparkly city touch too. I will let y'all decide which is which.

I could live here...

After the ever so healthy breakfast, we hit a Vintage Market at South Fork. Yes, that South Fork.  Walking in between the various vendor tents with a glass of wine in one of our hands, beer (Coors Light of course) in the other, was peaceful in its own right but it wasn't the best part.  The best part was talking to the animals in the shadow of the house.  Now this is Texas so really it was the burning sun but you get the idea.  The longhorns, horses, mini-horses, llamas, I stopped to talk to all of them, heck I sang with the llamas.  We walked in between the barns with stalls, I for one thankful that there was a big door and gate separating me from the longhorns - they are really big in person.  While driving out, we moved out of the way for the people on horseback, they always have the right of way.  I might not be a Texan by birth, and am considered more Yankee than most by my wonderful boys, but this part of Texas and the country?  I love it.  I still want a horse...not sure why there never is one under the Christmas tree for me.

One of us ran a 5k for fun...

...one of us thinks running that far is stupid.

Of course now it is time for the Cowboys game so we are back in the 'Country House' with sleeping dogs (and a sleeping Big Guy too) in time for me to make up taco nachos.  What is the point of all this?  Well it's really quite simple.  Today could have been hot, and miserable, disappointing but instead I embraced the joy of being with my friends - and yes, I recovered my breathing, very important wedding to sing for next week so I cannot die - embraced walking around in the pasture looking at beautiful antiques and wooden signs (I need to learn how to use a saw as I know I can make a Texas sign), holding hands with the love of my life talking and singing with animals as he rolls his eyes and dares me to jump the fence, moving out of the way for the horse riders.  Already today has proven to be another great day to be alive, even in the country.