Summer of Shanley – Page 4 – Adventures of a lover of all things summer

Updates, Adventures and Mandela Day

Updates

A small, yet heart-warming update from my last entry where I was left feeling less than adequate trying to help people. Some good news is that I’ve received emails back from almost all the people and organizations I reached out to for the young man with the cleft palate. It doesn’t mean anything will happen yet, but the young man’s mum is now in conversation with one of the Cleft Palate team members at Pretoria Hospital. And although a conversation still doesn’t feel like enough to me, someone told me that the things I do here in South Africa are like drops in a bucket. I might not fill that person’s bucket, but I’ve made a start. The day after I met the young man and his mum she sent me this email.

It was an absolute honour to meet you.
You are an amazing person.
Thank you so much will surely follow up.
I have Also contacted Smile again through facebook.
I appreciate all your effort and I thank you for wanting to help XXXX and I.
Thank you for allowing the tears.
Needless to say I am emotionally drained.
I keep playing those words around in my head.
You reminding me to be proud of what im doing or trying to do.

No-one Has ever told me That.

Thank you.

Much love and light and may God guide us to the correct solution for XXXX.

XoXo

I included some of it, not to brag or say hey look someone thinks I’m amazing, but to point out that until now, no one has ever met this mom with the words “you’ve done good.” Or “you should be proud of your efforts.” Instead she’s been told she’s being bitchy or crazy. Parents in general are amazing, but I think parents of children with special needs are true heroes and should be reminded of this often.

Adventures:

If we are friends on Facebook or Instagram your feeds have probably been filled with the pictures from my adventures this past weekend, but two of my favorite readers do not socialize through media so just a few words and photos to tide them over until I get home. Saturday I awoke at 5AM and drove out to a Private Reserve where animals are left in their natural habitat.

How can you not fall in love with those eyes?

While at the reserve you are able to get “somewhat” close to the animals but it’s by no means a petting zoo. I felt comfort in this fact that they weren’t drugging their animals so that some silly human can wrap their paws around it, take a picture, then post it to their Tinder account thinking it will impress all the ladies. I’ve never quite understood that phenomena …but if you don’t believe me it’s so real. See Tigers of Tinder . Sunday it was up again early to chase the sun while trail running through the Groot Constantia Vineyard.

I’d never run through a vineyard and I quite liked channelling my inner Keanu Reeves when he’s running through the vineyard in “A Walk in the Clouds” to save the day. To nobody’s surprise except my flatmates here in South Africa who think I’m a running machine, I did not win. I did however manage to pick up some swag in the form of a little bottle of South African Sauvignon Blanc .

For an 11 dollar race fee, wine for everyone is a pretty great deal!

Last but not least, after my race I jumped in the car to head off to Table Mountain for Absailing. In the US we would call this rappelling…I think. It was out of this world. At first, I wasn’t looking around just focusing on my foot placement as I was bouncing down the side of the mountain, but then I thought, shit I’m up here might as well. The view was indescribable.

i'd like to say I don't sweat i sparkle but that's clearly not true — i’d like to say I don’t sweat i sparkle but that’s clearly not true

Mandela Day!

Since 2010, Mandela Day has been an international holiday. While it is Nelson Mandela’s birthday and that in of itself is something to honor, the Mandela Day movement asks people to go out and give 67 minutes of their time to honor the 67 years that Nelson Mandela fought for social justice. I know I volunteered more than 67 minutes at the school today, but that’s like my job. All the volunteers at the house and I wanted to do something more. Tonight there was a Full Moon Beach walk that was benefitting the DOT box project (Do One Thing). We came and walked out the beach for 30 or so minutes then walked back 30 plus minutes. They asked that if you can afford it, to bring an item for the 1000 children that the DOT boxes will end up helping. This giving was a no brainer for me. Wouldn’t we all be better off for doing just one thing?

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.- Nelson Mandela

XOXO

If only I could take them all back…

This week I’ve been meeting more families and getting to see a few of the ones from last week again. On Tuesday, I met a family that made me wish I could leave all my things here and pack them in my suitcase instead to come to America and get the help they not only need, but deserve. The whole family came to a session for their youngest daughter who will be turning 6 soon. The lovely girl I speak of is primarily non-verbal with vocalizations, “singing” and some sporadic words (She does use “dammit” correctly). When the parents shared that she liked singing I busted out my best Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She was unimpressed. Mom started to sing and it was like angels had spoken. I saw why my tone-deaf version of the song did nothing. This young girl showed her excitement for things by screeching. During our session the dad got up and walked out holding his ear and I thought he was taking a phone call. Turns out he has hyperacusis and his own daughter’s “vocalizations” are causing him extreme pain. The dad used to work in construction but can no longer due to the noise. You’re probably thinking well at least the mom can work, but she can’t because she had to quit her job to homeschool her daughter. This mom is in no lesser terms a Rock star. The main reason her daughter had made any progress over the years was because of the work she was doing with her. She shared with me concerns or questions she would take to doctors or professionals only to be told that there was “no such thing” or that her daughter was “fine.” I’m no medical doctor but I have worked with enough children to say that her daughter was not fine. The services they were given was a visit 1 hr. per month to the special needs school where their daughter would sit in a group and as mom described it “just sing songs.” I would never knock another’s treatment plan but it was clear that the parents were not happy paying for something that they could and would do at home with her. The mom shared with me that she was made to feel crazy by the doctors when they would dismiss her ideas. While I don’t know how much my words meant, I told her that her concerns are not only valid but they were spot on. The things she was observing are very much a real thing and even if they are a taboo topic, I told her she was courageous to bring them up and she was the best thing that could happen for her daughter. The mom asked if she could stay in touch with me through emails and if I could send her the “proof” that these things exist. I’ve never in my professional career wished more for a parent to email me.

Today I was the classroom teacher for 7 girls ranging from ages 12 to 2 years. I’ve only ever taught a whole class of children for short periods of 30 minutes to an hour but today I was the HBIC for the whole day (that’s Head B in charge in case you didn’t know). I was the classroom teacher , the lunch lady, the yard duty, the P.E. teacher, the music teacher, the art teacher oh and the Afrikaans teacher. That was the one I had to fake it til I made it the most. There were no sub plans so I just had to channel all the amazing teachers I know and wing it. While they all differ in age, there wasn’t as vast of a difference in their ability (with the exception of the 2 year old) as you might think so that made it a little easier. For P.E. we of course did a dance class and for art I put my adult coloring pages to use! These girls were so well-behaved and were excited when I answered yes to their question, “Are you going to correct our work.?” All of the girls in this class live in a house called Peace Home. It is a foster home for children who have been abused in one way or another. The woman running the home has taught them structure, respect for adults and to show pride in their work. These girls have lived things that adults should never have to see but here they were, working for just the approval of their teacher for the day. They didn’t need a sticker, a caught being good or a prize, my praise was prize enough.

Some of my students today. I let them start with coloring:)

We made it to the end of the day with smiles

I tried not to cry during my last afternoon speech session, but I was unsuccessful. Another mum brought her 15-year old son into see me. I quickly realized that I really couldn’t help the boy by doing speech therapy but I’m going to try any and all the resources I know to help him otherwise. This young man was born with a Cleft Palate and sometimes when the structures are not functioning no amounts of speech therapy will do anything. It was repaired when he was 4 months old and as mom describes it, you’d never know he had the surgery as he had progressed so well. At 4 years he had grommets (what we call tubes) put in his ears and that doctor decided to also remove his adenoids. Unfortunately often times with children with soft palate clefts they rely on their adenoids. Soon the boy’s speech became hyper-nasal and unintelligible. It was even hard for me and I’ve got a pretty good ear for these things. He’s gone through multiple surgeries of removing rib bones and fat to attempt to repair the damage done, but none of them have worked. Again I was faced with a mom who has spent all her money and more time than she has on trying to help her son. She admitted that she knew I couldn’t help her, but said it was just nice to talk to someone that would listen and understand. I could not promise them anything but I’ve now taken on trying to contact every operation smile, smile train, Cleft Palate South Africa email address I can find. I have reached out to my Facebook speech groups and I have to think that any new resource is a road that the mom hasn’t taken and if nothing else it might bring her to a name or number of someone she can talk to. I reminded her that she needs to put her oxygen mask on first sometimes and take care of herself because while she is the best medicine for her child if she is run down it wont be as easy to help him.

It’s going to take a lot of cake and ice creams to put this heart back together after this trip.

Sunday in South Africa

Today I had two very separate but equally fascinating experiences while visiting South Africa. I started my morning off by visiting the Langa Township. During the apartheid era, black people were evicted from properties that were in areas designated as “white only” and forced to move into segregated townships. Langa Township is one of the oldest townships. My new friend Sam took me on a walking tour through the township. I saw where people lived sometimes three families to a room, no hot water but there was electricity and one bathroom to share for 16 families. There were other parts of the township were illegal sheds were built when people wanted more privacy and didn’t want to be living in a room with so many other families. And while they get their privacy it comes with a whole lot of other troubles. No plumbing, electricity that you rig on your own and roofs that leak. I also was shown a part where people are now allowed to buy their own homes if they make enough money. Even within the 2.7 Kilometers of land that makes up Langa there was huge disparity.

On my tour I visited their Sheebeen or local brewery. A Sheebeen was originally an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages were sold without a license. The term has spread far from its origins in Ireland to South Africa. One giant jug of beer is 30 Rand, which equals about 2 dollars US. I imagine if you bought a beer that size back home it would be at least 25-30 dollars. Originally Sheebeens were run by women and women and men would sit separately but now everyone intermingles. I asked my tour guide if they stopped talking because I was in there and he said yes and no. They know that the tours do bring in money so they try to be respectful.

I visited their traditional doctor. This was the only time on the tour that I felt scared and not because of where I was but because of the fact that it was very dark and there were quite a few animal feet and faces staring at me. The Doctor asked me to take his picture and that is why I’m including it. I did not fee it was my right to show pictures of the people and town.

The best best best part of my visit to the Townships was Church. According to Sam 90% of the township practice some form of Christianity. They feel that they are able to meld their traditional African beliefs with the views of Christianity. Once inside the church me as an outsider was welcomed with smiles and handshakes. When the music began you couldn’t help but be lifted out of your seat. I did take a very short video but it doesn’t capture even a portion of the feelings in that room. As I looked around I noticed that everyone in church was dressed up, singing and praising their god. These people have what I would consider next to nothing, but they still have their faith.

I was curious as to how the people of the Township felt about strangers and especially white strangers coming into their homes, their churches and their places of business. He shared with me something that I know I will cherish for a very long time. He told me that they had different belief systems and it was more about their “uluntu” or humanity. He shared their saying “A house without visitors isn’t a home.” And that not wanting people into your home says a lot about your personality;)

I ended my day with a luxurious (okay maybe luxurious isn’t the right word, maybe more like breathtaking) Helicopter ride above the scenic Cape Town. All the places I had just visited were mere spots below me. The views were outstanding and I felt like I was on top of the world. While work has been exciting in it’s own way, my weekend adventures are allowing me to see more parts of this town.

File_002

XOXO

So many feelings…

It’s been about a week since I landed in South Africa and today was my fifth day “on the job”. There are so many different feelings swirling around in my head and heart right now. In the past few days I’ve met so many families and different children who are in need of something here in South Africa. Some of the families came to see me to see if there really was a concern and should they spend their hard earned money on a speech evaluation. Some came because their child doesn’t speak at all and wanted ways to communicate with them at home. Others just to have someone listen to them. Today I found myself doing a phonics and reading lesson. I’m technically not qualified to do any of that but thankfully, I’ve worked with many an amazing Resource Teacher, Reading Specialist and Special Day Class teacher to have some tricks up my sleeve. I even pulled out some of my Occupational Therapy knowledge that I’ve soaked up sitting in meetings the last 10 or so years. After that lesson the mum asked me “So he’s not bad right?” And my heart broke. It’s as if learning differently would suggest that he’s bad.

I find myself getting so frustrated at how families with students with any type of need are treated here or how the children themselves get treated. I will spare you most of the horror stories, but one darling darling little boy was locked in a toy box at his school because they didn’t know how to work with him. That same boy sat with me yesterday and we chatted, did activities and played games and I could have stayed chatting with him all afternoon if I didn’t have another family coming in right after. Parents have shared that schools tell them “it’s not their problem if the child can’t read.” Me “So then what the hell are they there for?” Honestly I’ve gotten so upset that I’ve even forgotten my manners and used some cuss words when talking to the parents. Yesterday, I worked with a young “man” of 16 years. He brought it upon himself to make an appointment to meet with me. I will quickly share his story and then move on to something a little lighter. The boy showed up and he was dressed in his rugby uniform from just having come from practice. He quickly shared with me that he wanted some tips to help him not stutter. I sadly don’t have anything to make anyone “not stutter”, it’s a strategies thing and speech therapy is not a cure for stuttering. I told him I’d try to help him with strategies. I first asked him to tell me a little about himself. I learned he does well at school, has friends, plays on the rugby team and is really comfortable at home. I followed up and asked if his friends were patient with him when he stuttered and he initially shared they were. I praised his friends out loud to him. A few moments later I asked him, so you’re smart, have friends, play sports and are comfortable at home what bothers you most about the stuttering. To which he answered, “Well actually my friends do tease me and I’m getting embarrassed.” Me : Mothereffers!!!! (Dont’ worry I kept that one in my thought bubble) . Together we tried to strategize how he could have more success at school and I wanted him to try and find a trusted teacher. This was not an easy task. He shared they don’t really stop the teasing. I could not hide my sadness for him and honestly wanted to walk right up to that school and start taking names…but really I know it wouldn’t matter if some silly American girl gave her opinion on how they should run their school. At the end of our time, I told him very frankly that his “friends” are shit and if they were his friends they would not tease him about something like this. Yes I get that boys and friends all tease each other most times out of love but when it cuts it’s not cool. And then some swears did slip out of the thought bubble and told him to tell his friends just “EF Off”. I left that session and quite a few others feeling helpless. I knew I wasn’t going to be solving any major world problems here, but I felt as if I had nothing to give. I’m quick to suggest something only to realize my suggestions only work in a country that values special education. Must continue to think outside of the box!

In case you were wondering I did not come to South Africa and get boobs all of a sudden...I'm on the bottom right;) — In case you were wondering I did not come to South Africa and get boobs all of a sudden…I’m on the bottom right;)

On a lighter note, I let the young kids in the house take me out partying last night for what is called First Thursdays. If I didn’t feel old before I sure as heck felt old last night. I know I’ve always hated techno but man my 37 year old self hates it even more;) I did manage to stay out until 2AM and still get up for work at 8, but it was nothing in comparison to the ones that stayed out until 6:30. I’m totally ok with being the grandma and coming home early. Well it’s about to get dark and I want to get home before it does, so I will sign off for now. This weekend I will post a few of my adventures. Sorry for the ranting today:)

XOXO

July 4th and 5th!

First, missing you all and loved seeing all of your 4^th of July posts. For me, yesterday was just another Monday, but in South Africa of course, so not really just any old Monday. The most patriotic I got yesterday was wearing my stars and stripes socks, my Patriots shirt and listening to the National Anthem when I was live streaming Evan’s Hockey Tournament. Funnily enough I convinced one of the British girls in the house to come get burgers and dogs with me for dinner. Clearly we can leave our past in the past;) Next year I will get after it again.

It was a whopping 36 degrees as I went for my 4th of July fun Run.

Burgers and yes that's a coke for the girl who said no more cokes once in South Africa! — Burgers and yes that’s a coke for the girl who said no more cokes once in South Africa!

Proud Auntie and Patriotic moment. Go Junior Bs

Me pretending it was warm sitting by the pool. It was lovely, but not quite pool weather.

And Second, even when you are aware of your privilege and your access to resources in the United States, it never quite prepares you for the injustice in other areas of the world. It turns out that while I will be helping some of the children at the Learning Vine School, it’s also been put out into the community that there is a very FREE Speech therapist in town and people can make appointments. I’m not quite sure what I can even do for some of these people that have made appointments, but if I can leave having just helped one that will have to be enough.

Yesterday I went to visit the home of a little Congolese boy and was saddened and quite shocked to find out that because of his disability (non-verbal autism), his mother who was out of resources and options had to lock him in the their apartment when she went off to work and his sister went off to school. And before you start judging and thinking how terrible and they must not care about him or love him, it’s just the opposite. There was nothing but love for this darling little boy and when faced with make money to keep her house and feed her children or stay home because no school would take David decision, she chose. As people and as parents we make choices every day, but I honestly can’t imagine having to make one like that. Just FYI this boy now attends the Learning Vine School and from what I hear is making great progress.

Today I started to put together a basic Picture Exchange System (PECS) for that same boy and it was a true labor of love. Something that would have taken me 10 minutes to do back home took me two hours and I’m not even finished. At least I now know how much time to dedicate to some of the materials making. I guess I’m just having a hard time wrapping my head around just how much harder it is here. And I don’t mean for me making the pages, but just how the access to things for these children and adults with disabilities is almost non-existent save for a few self-less people who themselves don’t have a ton and give more than they have. Tomorrow I have another appointment and I’m hoping for the best.

Just came in from a run in the rain with another girl in the house. It is great to have a running partner here and especially since she’s quite a few years my junior, she’s pushing me to my limits. But now it’s time to warm up in the shower before curling up with my book. Hey Cousin Matty you were right, the book Brighton is great so far!

I've found a running partner!!! — I’ve found a running partner!!!

XOXO

Settling in in South Africa

The pictures are a bit out of order, but as you’ll read the Internet is a bit rubbish here.

Stopping for a breather before heading up further

Strike a pose there's nothing to it — Strike a pose there’s nothing to it

Settling in Quite Nice

It’s only been a few days and honestly I’m still not quite sure what time it is as my body has not adjusted to all the time changes, but as I sit here eating my post hike snack of Pot O’ Gold peanut butter and Tastee Treats Saltee crackers, I think I’m going to be ok here for the next month. The two worst things I can think of about my stay are that it’s bonkers cold in the house and the Internet is rubbish. So as I type I’m locked up tight in my Patagucci, scarf and blanket. I do believe it’s colder in here than outside. They told me it was because the house was built for summer not winter. And the Internet, well that will just force me to be social and pretend like it’s 1995 or something.

Bottom of Table Mountain. A little chilly this morning.

I’m staying in a little suburb of Cape Town. While I’d love to be staying right in Cape Town this is where the school is located. It’s kinda like when people say there are from Boston and they live in Everett;) Or when you think you are going to be staying in San Francisco because that’s where your hotel is and you realize oh wait that’s San Mateo or South City. All is well as they have an extremely efficient bus system that is really quite cheap. It’s only like 10 Rand a trip and that’s like 66 cents US. And not that it’s too shocking but they also have Uber here and it too is super or should I say uber cheap. The house I’m in feels somewhat like a sorority house. Or what I imagine one to be like. Lots of girls sleeping in large rooms, a kitchen with six refrigerators and a nice common room. I feel a scosh like the house mom as I am probably a decade older than most these girls, but as someone said I’m young at heart so I should get along just fine. Most of the girls are from the UK, Canada or France. I’ve been spending most of my time with the girls from the UK and I noticed in my writing that I keep saying quite and rubbish…just wait til’ I start saying “posh”.

Yesterday was my first full day and I spent the morning at the market trying to buy food that I would like. I stuck with the basics for now, but I sure do like all the names they give the food out here. The lead favorite is “Smackeroos” and if you had to guess wouldn’t you think it was some sort of cross between Smuckers jam and a Dunkaroo…nope fish nuggets! After my new friend Sarah and I cruised down to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Here there were a lot of cool little shops and stands. This felt like an upscale version of Fisherman’s Wharf or something similar to Faneuil Hall Marketplace. I have to admit having some things that remind me of home make it less likely for me to get homesick.

Today we hiked Table Mountain. That was quite a feat. We picked one of the harder routes apparently and I was honestly feeling like a champ until this power couple comes storming past me running the darn thing. After I got over myself it made me smile to think of some of my favorite power running couples back home. I will let the pictures speak for themselves; I need to jump in the shower to warm up.

My Bermuda top 10

I know I said that if I had to leave Bermuda after one day it would have been enough, but I’m sure glad I got to stay for all the other days too.

My top 10 Bermuda takeaways:

Oracle Base Tour– I know I already wrote about this, but it was truly an experience to see how it all gets done and can’t wait to see them Bring the Cup home in 2017!

Bread– not only did I eat it, but I also got to watch Cody, the newly minted “domestic goddess” bake all her own breads. I left the island with some Asiago Bread and with the exception of the fact that my backpack smells like cheese it was a tasty take home treat.

Private Yoga classes– I had the luxury of going to not one but two semi private classes while on the island and meeting two beautiful souls who taught the classes. My favorite was “if you’re a runner this might be a little much and you might start to feel nauseous.”

Internationally bad at golf – They always say a bad day on the course is better than any day at work and I have to say between Cody and I, we must have lost upwards of 10 balls, but we had a lot of laughs and fun!

Every experience with your waiter is like an SNL skit.- I often wondered if we were being punk’d. I kept wondering do they hate us? hate life? is it just lost in translation?

Après beach– going to the beach on this beautiful island is always a treat, but who doesn’t love the post beach cheese and cracker spread

Sunsets– I live in one of the best spots to watch Sunsets in the city, but dang if Bermuda hasn’t gone and one-upped that experience.

Not being married to your phone– I love that I could only use my phone when there was Wi-Fi service and on an island like Bermuda that was pretty much only when I went to sleep at night. I loved that it forced me to be present in the moment and just enjoy the time I had with my friends.

It’s a Small World After all– Not once but twice while lying on the beach in Bermuda, I met friends of friends of mine back in San Francisco! Getting to meet all of Cody’s friends was great. Knowing she has made such a nice core group of friends makes me happy for her.

Present Friends- I had not seen my friend Cody in over a year. She and I could go months without a message, but the second we are together it’s as if no time has passed and nothing has changed. I feel so fortunate that I met Cody all those summers ago in Michigan when the two of us along with my other dear friends Ashley and Katie spent one wild and crazy summer together that we would never forget. Many years have passed and all of our lives have changed drastically, but what has remained is a true friendship with each of them and all it takes is being together to bring all those memories (new and old) back.

I’m sure there is more that I could talk about but enjoy a few photos instead. On to the next adventure!

Church Beach, where we swam and snorkled with the parrot fish. — Church Beach, where we swam and snorkeled with the parrot fish.

One of the few times I kept my eye on the ball. Belmont Hills Golf Club

C is for cool calm and collected..oh and Caitlin

Even when it wasn’t nice out, it was gorgeous

Bermuda, where your straight hair goes to die

My guess is 6 feet under has quite the different meaning in Bermuda. Graves above ground due to volcanic rock.

One of the quotes in the gym that I liked from the late great Ali!

Looking back on a great time had…hope to see you again soon!

Simply Bermudaful

If my time in Bermuda ended just after one day it would be enough. In just one day I was able to witness what a day of “thunderstorms” looks like on the island. In case you didn’t know it looks like rain for 20 minutes and then the rest of the day it’s blue skies smiling at you. If I can leave any advice for you, don’t waste a second looking at the weather app on your phone because it’s not right and you could be using those precious seconds to soak up the beauty that is Bermuda.

Doesn't get much better than this. — Doesn’t get much better than this.

My morning began with me heading out for a run in those said Thunderstorms. I quickly learned the Bermudian custom of honking not to tell you to get your running butt off the road, but to simply say hello. I also learned that there are hills in Bermuda. I guess I just thought it was this flat island and my six-mile run would be a cinch. It wasn’t and when I came back I looked as if I had just jumped in the ocean. Humidity + Hills did not equal my friend.

I was lucky enough to get a personal tour of the Oracle Base and meet some of the sailors and shore crew. I was amazed to see the amount of work that goes into sailing those boats and not only just from the sailors. I’m sure by the time my tour was over, my tour guide had had enough of my little-to-no-experience-with-sailing questions, but he took them all in stride and I learned a lot.

IMG_6968 (1) — Chaser boats..check out those seats!

I spent the rest of the glorious afternoon tooling around all the different bays and coves on the boat. I kept saying how I couldn’t believe how beautiful and blue the water was. I almost didn’t believe my friends when they told me, “just wait it gets better”, but it does. When we anchored at a small cove I jumped in and was quite shocked it was salt water, not some pristine pool. After the initial shock and we were out there for a while whether we were snorkeling by a reef or just floating on a noodle, I forgot again and was only reminded when I’d get a friendly salty slap to the face.

Just when I thought the day couldn’t get better, I got to spend a night out…on the patio that is, enjoying a home cooked meal, some fantastic company and of course the mating sound

s of the little tree frogs:)

Bermuda First Day – A+

Who Says you can’t go home

With just over 48 hrs in between flights I found myself on the corner of I just want to nap and wanting to squeeze out every last minute of visiting friends and family. Knowing full well I had to get up early to make my flight and even as the clock read 1:30AM, I couldn’t bring myself to leave my best friends house last night where a few of us were pouring over old photos and practically peeing ourselves in laughter (okay maybe it was really peeing ourselves for one of us, but I wont say who). I’m not quite sure why those pictures and memories never get old, but sitting in my friend’s childhood living room where we’d pose for many a first or last day of school and prom photo just put that warm feeling in my heart.

If you’ve never heard of Everett Mass, we are most known for our football, Richie’s Slush and now apparently even Eminem is now coming here to get in his bar fights.

I often joke and call my home the Dirty E, but it’s more of a term of endearment really. I love that as I scrambled to get a couple miles in on my run yesterday in our 2.5 square mile town and within two miles, I had stopped to chat with 5 people. Being gone so long I always think I wouldn’t know anyone, but clearly not the case. As I walked into dinner at my parents local I was greeted by an old classmate who I hadn’t seen in years. He was very sweet to compliment me and say I still looked 30. I enjoyed it for a hot minute, until he followed it up with “Did I tell you I was running for Mayor.” Always the politician that one.

I know my city is different from when I posed for those first day of school photos back in Junior High, but so am I. My high school is now used for movies and maybe its not quite as safe for me to walk home from my friends houses now.

But the one thing that hasn’t changed is that I never forget where I came from and how it’s shaped me to know where I’m going. Roll Tide!

The Double Dipsea in the Eyes of One Very Average Runner:

Yesterday I kicked off the Summer of Shanley the Sequel by running the 47^th annual Double Dipsea. The race in numbers is 13.7 miles, 4,500 feet ascent, 4,500 feet descent, 1,342 stairs and 724 participants. The race described in a gentle warning from the race directors is “just stupid” and “sadistic.” That alone could scare someone like me who is just your average runner, but it didn’t. If you know me and know my Type A minus personality, you know that “average” is not my favorite word. But the nerd in me also knows that there is no denying the numbers and that’s just what I am average (20/49 female in my age group, 141/269 overall female, 438/724 overall.)

I used to be embarrassed that I’ve gotten much slower or that I never was quite as fast as my friends, but I’ve gotten over that. Someone once reminded me that my medal after a race looks the same as the guy who came in first. Yeah, he or she probably got an additional medal or some cash, but you get my point. This average runner along with everyone out on that trail worked very hard to make it to yesterday’s starting line and there should be nothing but pride felt in that.

Another thing they say about the Double Dipsea is that it’s not for everyone. Maybe not, but I sure did see a lot of different types of someones taking on the course yesterday. I not only had the pleasure of having the lead runners pass me twice as I jumped to the side and stood in awe as he bounded both down and up very technical trail, but I also saw Daryll the 79 year old gentleman who was dead last but still had a smile on his face when you cheered him in passing.

Before I go on and on I figured I’d make a list of some of the highlights. I hear lists on the Internet are all the rage.

Top 10 highlights of running Double Dipsea as an average runner:

10. “Not to put a feather in my cap, but I’m pretty well known in the running community.” When I complimented an older woman on her very fancy bow and she proceed to let me know just how fancy she was. Somebody was clearly feeling herself.

9.Coke: Races and training for races I allow myself to drink tonic and even warm, it’s pure magic during a race.

8.Say my name say my name. All of our race bibs had our names on them and big enough so you could cheer for each other in passing. It was a huge boost.

7.Never Say never: Not only did my body not want to quit, but more importantly my head didn’t either.

6. Other people’s sweat: When you are coming and going up the Mill Valley stairs it didn’t matter that you would knock into folks because you’d simply glide right off them.

5. It’s no Secret: That I forgot deodorant because I announced it in the car ride to the race, but as I was in some tight quarters on the stairs, I realized soon enough that I wasn’t the only one. That was some Stank!

4. Triple Dip: After my Double dip, I went for one more dip in the Ocean at the finish line, totally saving my legs.

3.Next-level Picnic: Spending my post race hours basking in the sun with friends, great food and yes more Coke!

2. Oh I think I found myself a cheerleader…or two… There were my friends who saw me off in my time wave with smiling faces and cheering voices. And since those same friends are above average runners they were also there to greet me as I finished. The encouragement from my Team Grind pals as they came upon me on the trail. My pals waiting in Old Mill Park to see me just for a few moments and then see me off again. And to every unsolicited “Go Caitlin” from other runners, I thank you.

1. Just keep running: “Dead Last is greater than Did Not Finish which trumps Did Dot Start.” So, in this case, I guess I’m a little above the curve.

There was only one downside to this whole adventure that began back in March when I registered. I never figured out who the shirtless runner was who’d be out there training every Sunday like me and who put a little extra pep in my step when he passed me coming or going and gave me that nod. Looks like I need to just keep running to see him again;0