sAy AnYtHiNg

We Did It!

Yesterday my son and I competed in our first 5k run.  It was nerve wracking, exhilarating, terrifying, exciting, slightly painful, but mostly wonderful.  I can't wait to do it again.  I am a proud, proud mom because my son was awesome.  I am also really proud of myself and feel a huge sense of accomplishment.

There were 424 participants overall in the 5k category.  My son beat me, I knew he would.  He came in 5th in his age group and 81st overall.  I came in 23rd in my age group and 151st overall.  I am ecstatic!   My son has found something he is good at and enjoys!  He is just going to get better and better and I am excited to be a part of it with him.  As for me,  I just didn't want to be dead last, and not only was I not dead last, I had a pretty darn good showing for my first time out.

My husband and daughter were there cheering us on at the start and as we crossed the finish line.  It is such fun to share this as a family.  Also, as icing on the cake of a great morning, we were part of raising $30,000 + for

Bear Necessities, an organization dedicated to wiping out pediatric cancers.

Woot!

#1 Fan

I have always, for the most part, been a sports fan.  I was  a cheerleader in high school for football and basketball and I really enjoyed the games.  I also understand what is going on in the games, which is more than I can say for some of my fellow cheerleaders.  I often thought that a simple test on the basics of the game should be incorporated into the cheerleading tryouts, but that is beside the point.  Obviously, when I was cheering at a game I was very vocal, it was my job for heaven's sake, but that trend has continued through my life.  If I am watching a game on television, that interests me, I can be very animated and loud in my cheering.  I am not fanatical about any team and I don't HAVE to see any particular games, it is just that if I happen to be watching I usually get involved in the action.

Now, I have good reason to cheer.  I have a player in the game.  My son has played basketball for our park district for four years and this spring will be his third season of little league.  I am one of the loudest, if not the loudest moms in attendance.  (If Chi Chi's son and my son end up on the same team then she gives me a run for my money.)  I DO NOT coach from the sidelines and I don't get angry about anything going on in the game.  The coach is the coach and this is supposed to be fun for the kids, not life or death if they win.  I also, do not cheer on the other team just to be nice.  I harbor no ill toward them either, I just support my son's team.  I hope I am perceived as enthusiastic and encouraging.  I also do not just cheer for my son.  I make a point to learn all the kids names on his team and cheer for them just as loudly as I cheer for my son.  I absolutely love it and usually come home with a raw throat from all my cheering, and this is how I am when he is 9.  I can only imagine what I will be like when he gets to high school.  Hope I don't embarrass him too much, but at least he will never have to question if I was enthusiastic about him and the things in which he chooses to be involved.

This Week's Prediction

For those of you keeping score, I am now at 1 and 1 in my predictions.  I know three people have already gone home, but I didn't start this prediction-fest until the second week of competition.  I would have been correct on week one as well, but it's not in writing so we will just let it stand at 1 and 1.

It is interesting that my first mark in the win column caused my daughter such a great amount of sadness.  We usually find out on Wednesday morning via the computer who, indeed, was sent packing.  Last week, my daughter was sitting with me when a picture of Cheryl Burke and Wayne Newton came up on the homepage of AOL.  "Oh, yeah, I was right" I exclaimed.  My daughter looked at me with great trepidation and said, "Mommy, did Mr. Las Vegas get voted out?!"  "Yes, honey they did, Mommy was right."  "Noooooo, I want Mr. Las Vegas."  Then she dissolved into gut wrenching sobs, all the while saying "I want Mr. Las Vegas!"  I was astonished.  It took me several minutes with her to finally determine that it wasn't Mr. Las Vegas that had stolen her heart, but that she liked his partner Cheryl.   She thinks she is pretty, a good dancer, and has pretty costumes.  She didn't want her to be gone.  The tears finally ended after a manicure (given by mommy, complete with little gems on her nails) and about 4 books read aloud.  I can only hope that the rest of my predictions won't cause such sorrow.

This week I predict that Mark Cuban will exit the ballroom.  He tries very hard, but just doesn't have that certain something.  I can only hope the shameless self promoter "Pretty Boy" Floyd will be next.