My son left his backpack unattended at the airport.  Five security guards later and a tongue lashing by one we got it back, complete with toys and most importantly, his sleep toy.

Today, my son and his friend climbed up the hill beside our house to play in a fort they found in a eucalyptus grove. It had been destroyed. They decided to rebuild after experiencing some distress and disappointment that someone had willfully destroyed their newly found fort. I helped them with the project despite having laryngitis and a feeling of overwhelming lethargy. After an hour or so, it was half done and they were all done. We joyfully ran down the hill and came home to popsicles and ice water. The neighbor kid looked at me in all the seriousness of a nine year old and said, I am so proud I built half a fort today.”

I am going to follow his example and take pride in my half finished projects instead of berating myself about how little I have got done or how incomplete some projects are despite my focussed attention. I will rebuild even if someone or something strikes down something I care about. Thanks for the inspiration, kid. I will build a fort with you any day.

My seven year old son, with an air of the world weary observer and zen like attitude combined said, oh mom that’s just the way he is.   If only I could have that level of acceptance and calm.

My d’aughter’s schoolmate asked her to a prom that is happening two years from now.  That is a crush.  Oh for that sweet feeling.

My friend with cerebral palsy mother is and was incredible.  I remember at a very young age she made him do something by himself.  Pour his juice, get a sweater, something small for me, but difficult for Scotty.  I glanced at her briefly  and she knew I thought she was being mean.  She then gently explained to me that she was not always going to be on this earth to look after him and it was her job to make sure he could lead an independent life.  Even then, as a young girl, I understood the importance of task and admired her determination to make him stand on his own.  She succeeded.  She also taught me a lesson on motherhood.  I need to give children  the independence and skills to cope with life.

I admire her and yet wish I could console her. At the time, she was certain he would outlive her.

I found out last night a childhood friend died. We were no longer close and had not seen each other for 30 years. I would have recognized him on the streets of his town, Spokane Washington. He had spastic cerebral palsy and had an unmistakable gait. Our mothers were close friends and he was frequently my playmate. At the time, of course I knew something was wrong with him, but I didn’t really think about it or even worry about it. We ran in the fields, fought, chattered together. We were part of two large families and he was just part of the grand us. I hadn’t thought of him for a long time until my sister called to say he had died. It took me by surprise, these calls always do. I hate phones because of these types of calls. Any call before 7 or after 9 is rarely good news. I know he had a lasting impact on my life. As a ski instructor, I was always given the kids who needed extra help, I volunteered in college at a home for disabled adults and I tried to become a speech therapist a few years back (the education was too daunting). I realize now my innocent friendship taught me patience, empathy and compassion. Who could ask for anything more than that from anybody? I know I will soon forget this sadness, we were no longer close, but I will remember his bright being despite the obstacles of his disease. Maybe, I am a better person because he was part of my life.  I hope so.  I hope he knows he will be missed.

Crazy to write a blog a day. I started my job at start up last month.  It is Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and it is now 7:00 p.m.  no end in site.  This is madness.  Beautiful day, warm, missed two soccer games and lunch with the in laws.  This is a one.

I really did not want to go running this morning. I was tired, I had got home from my job last night at 9:30, made school lunches, watched a really boring car show with my husband and crawled to bed. This morning, I actually went back to bed and fell asleep for an additional 15 minutes. I was late. I was supposed to be up at 6 to prepare for the day. Jumped out of bed, slammed out breakfast and tossed on my running gear because it was there, dropped the kids at the bus and started dragging my sorry ass down that sidewalk with sprightly dog, Ping. She bounced. I trudged. I went up the hill looking for some song on my ipod that would inspire me. Nothing, not even Madonna was going to get through my foggy brain. Kept trudging, complaining to myself about the fog, the cold, everything I had to do today. I did not want to be with me. I was not good company. Suddenly, I looked up, literally the light dawned on me. I had climbed out of the fog. Mt. Tam was rose out of the fog like a beautiful woman rising from a steamy lake, the road beckoned ahead. This moment of rare beauty transformed me from a dreary rat running on the treadmill to a woman running with boundless energy.

I will run again tomorrow.  Each day brings a moment of bliss when I run.  I need those moments, they are my fuel for the day.

Today, my dog, Ping ran away on a hike. I had dropped the leash to tie my shoes and she spotted three deer and gave chase. At the same time, she stirred a jack rabbit from his hiding place. Can you imagine the excitement in that little dog brain. I knew my little bag of doggie treats could not withstand the competition of a real chase. I stood on the hill for ten minutes calling her name with nightmarish thoughts about another lost dog coursing through my brain. So, in the end, I found her, put her back on leash and brought her safely home. Keep your dog safe this Halloween night. Open doors and creepy pranksters abound. Kango.com posted a few tips on this very subject.  Just  a friendly reminder.

The polars bears are disappearing, drowning in a sea in need of ice.  Of all the global warming stories, this broke through the busyness of my life. I stopped.

I pondered a life without Arctic ice.  Will there be a world without it?  I want a world with polar bears, walruses and whales.  

My kids love polar bears, we read about them all the time. I dream of taking my family to Canada some day to see them.  It is one of my top ten trips I want to do during my lifetime.   Will they still be there? I hope so. 

I guess it is time to bring my recycled bags to the store, shop local, buy organic and use public transportation.  I may not be able to save the polar bears, but I can save a little landfill.  Any other ideas on little things I can do to really make a difference?