Worth writing home about.
Some things I’ll take home from this weekend.
• Dunkin Doughnut Munchkins are every bit as delicious as they were when I was a kid.
• I was born to serve. Woke up Saturday morning and volunteered as a course marshall for the Paris Mountain 20k. Turns out, I was at the same corner as a water station. At 10 miles deep in the course you’d think we were handing out gold. Big ups to anyone who did that race.
• If you put a pig in a Cajachina at 3:50 it should be ready to eat by 8:15.
• If seeking to maintain your manhood; do not watch the Kona Ironman triathlon on NBC with someone else in the room. If you are in the room with someone, be ready to “go check the coals on the pig.” When the stories of the man finishing the race who’s father passed away, or the guy who broke his back four years ago in a motocross accident, the waterworks are inevitable. There’s something majestic about the word Ironman. It should be said as almost two, with a pause for emphasis. I’m not even sure I deserve to call myself a half Ironman. I don’t even begin to stack up where these guys and gals do. Someday.
• Cooking a pig takes a really long time.
• A backpack leaf blower is the closest thing to having jedi powers as I’ve ever experienced.
• I have a tendency to overestimate the amount of people coming to my birthdays.
• I have a tendency to underestimate the amount of people half a pig will feed.
• When cooking a pig that takes a really long time, you can’t open it just to take a look. Talk about anticipation.
• It would not surprise me at all if I learn someday that April is an actual Angel.
• At a certain point my cheeks get sore from smiling, and my sides ache from laughing. I can’t think of many things that I love more than that.
• Somehow, I’ve surrounded myself with people who believe in me more than I do. I’ve got some of the best friends on earth.
• I’m secretly a big fan of birthday cards from people who “are the best artist they know“, and a modified 5 year old girl Barbie card. Seriously funny guys.
• Incredible things are happening at Newspring.
All in all, I’m pretty pumped about where I’ve been led, and where I’m being directed. A giant thank you to everyone that made this weekend happen and enjoyed it alongside. You stamped a smile on my soul.
It’s My Birthday! Give Me Presence!
Next week is my birthday, and I think it should be observed as a national holiday. I’m not conceited I promise, just hear me out. You see, I have a hard time simply honoring and celebrating myself. I’m not big on receiving gifts, nor do I possess the ability to smile and make genuine eye contact with people who sing “Happy Birthday” to me. Somewhere there’s a picture of me as a mere tot doing my best banshee while everyone else is smiling and singing. I can’t explain it.
Because the entire idea of celebrating myself seems unnatural, I’ve been putting this idea in my head for a while. I once heard a quote that went something like: “if at first an idea doesn’t sound absurd, it’ll never work,” so bear with me.
One of the things that genuinely makes my heart smile is hearing stories of people who are doing something radical for the good of those around them. I’m talking pure giving: selflessly giving your time, money, talent, or creativity to make someone’s day. It could be something as small as doing something special for someone that loves (or tolerates) you, or as grandiose as sacrificing a day to volunteer for someone in need; any kind of pure, selfless giving.
So here’s my idea. What if, as a gift to me, for one day you did something magical for someone else? What if on that day every year, people started following suit, doing something inspirational for someone around them? What if that started to spread? What if I could genuinely get people to start giving each other “gifts” on MY birthday? I keep envisioning a party when all of my friends can get together on my birthday to share fellowship, laughs, and the stories of some random act of kindness.
That’s what I want for my birthday, for you to do something radical. If you don’t feel like that’s something you can handle then that’s alright, but I don’t want any other gift from you either. If you wouldn’t do it for someone else then please don’t do it for me, because I really don’t deserve it.
All that being said, I think it’d be okay to announce the first-ever-soon-to-be-annual-inaugural-Joe’s-giving day at my house this Saturday. I can’t imagine anything better on my birthday than to surround myself with the people that inspire me, tolerate me, and are humble enough grace me with their presence before the holidays. If you’re one of those individuals who simply cannot tolerate me then cheer up…there’s going to be a pig.
No turning back now
You know, I’ve heard that after 20 miles your body begins to react the same way it does if you were to get hit by a truck. It can’t tell the difference. I can hardly wait.
Alas, I knew the day was coming when I’d absolutely have to commit. So, today was the early deadline. I’m locked in now.
I had trouble the first week, and some things never change. Still having trouble running during the week and it’s becoming increasingly apparent during the long runs.
13+ miles today. My knee’s feel a little like that scene from Misery. God help me.
