Contemplating the Celebration of Loved Ones

It's no secret that the last several weeks have been one challenge after another for the Altman fam. Heck, we could even go back to last fall as a start date. 

That said, I think we've rolled with the punches using our best attitudes, our best efforts, and the mantra of "survive and advance" on repeat. 

And yet, I expect our little family to continue to encounter more challenges(sick kid today for example) as we all get older, but I also expect fun and good times too.

Jackson and Karson have just experienced their first family death and funeral. Karson is young and has responded as I expected. He's a little clingier than normal but otherwise has been very much himself. Jackson has had a harder time. He's on the verge of his teenage years, and things are already confusing and hard, and losing his Nana was a big hit. We've encouraged him to talk about her, and that it's okay to be sad and miss her. 

Anyone who has children older than ours will know that as they get older, the life situations and opportunities for growth, continue on. The first funeral is a thing. A real funeral service is a whole new experience for kids. Luckily, my kids have made it this far in life without losing anyone close to them. This weekend was their first service and provided a lot of opportunity for conversation for all of us. 

I was taught to always go to the receiving of friends and/or the funeral. If your friends lose someone, you make your best effort to go to visitation or the funeral. The pandemic changed that for so many people, and I have to wonder how funerals and their attendance will look in the future. 

Have we replaced our in-person interactions with the Facebook care button or a text with thoughts and prayers? 

Or, is it just situational and dependent on our relationship with the deceased and/or their family, and our own schedules?

The service for Judy was well-done. The Reverand did a great job, and both Jason and his sister were excellent speakers. I'm glad that the boys were able to have their first funeral be one that was uplifting and truly celebrated Jason's mom. 

Those that came on Saturday truly made our day, and are in our hearts and loved by the Altman fam forever. We know that a Saturday mid-day is hard (especially in the sleet, snow, and wind), but seeing familiar faces is so uplifting. 

We were watching Ozark Saturday night (yes, I am way behind) and one of the characters was saying that we should just be able to say "this sucks" when talking to those who lose someone. It's not that far off from the truth. It does suck. But, at the end of the day, we were able to celebrate Jason's mom and remember her for her love for everyone around her. That's something special. 

So, as you go into your week, remember to be kind to one another. Do something nice for someone this week. And if you are presented in the future with the opportunity to support someone during their time of loss, go support them. It may be uncomfortable for you, but I can guarantee that it will make their day brighter during a time that can be dark. 

Hugs and love, K

Over the last several months, I've started a number of blog posts and then saved as a draft and exited the site. It's not that I am at a loss for words, I just can't get them on paper how I want them.

I have pandemic burnout. Work never stopped or slowed down for me. In fact, it was busier from March through May than ever. It hasn't slowed down, but we're past the frantic pace and plugging away. Altman's work never stopped. In fact, it's been more stressful than ever trying to figure out how to engage runners virtually and then trying to figure out in-person versus virtual for the fall and now wondering what happens in the spring.

The children were out of school for a really long time. The usual indoor/entertainment places were closed for a really long time. We had outside fun, but we have fair skin and need a break from the Sun. 

Karson broke his wrist and then Jackson fractured his foot. Back to back. One was healed and then the other was broken. What the heck?

Jackson's fracture came at the very beginning of Cross Country season. That just sucked. He'd been training all summer for this fall season. Fifth grade is like senior year for elementary school. His heart was broken. And frankly, so were ours. 

If you've never experienced the angst of child who isn't able to meet his own expectations then you are a lucky parent. No amount of antecdotes and encouragement will work for my first-born. Once he makes up his mind on something, he isn't happy unless he meets Goal A. 

He's been having some aches and pains over the last two weeks. His first race back was amazing, but he was disappointed. He met his goal for race two. We have regions coming up on Saturday and truthfully, I am ready to be past it. There's a new ache or pain each day, and Altman and I are just worn down with worry about how things will go. 

I know, my worrying won't change a thing. But, I want my boy to feel good about his effort. When he is disappointed, my heart breaks. 

We are blessed. I understand this and I thank God every day for our blessings. But, a little break would be nice. A break from COVID-19 news, political news, broken bones, anxious kiddos, and the daily anxieties about work and life. 

I started this blog years ago to be honest and transparent about raising children. It started with a poopapocolypse like no other. 

It's time to get back to those roots. And hopefully, my words resonate with some of you and allow you to see that we all have things on our mind and that's okay. 

Every moment is a new opportunity (can't remember the author of that quote) and I am taking them one at a time and doing the best I can with them. 

See you on the roads!

The Miles Continue...

Pre-pandemic, we were really busy. All. The. Time. We were gearing up for CHKM weekend and the general craziness of spring.
Then, COVID came to town. The need for blood doesn’t stop in a pandemic. Throw in over a hundred blood drives canceled in like 72 hours, 6 complete schedule re-writes for one week and communications sent multiple times per day bc of urgent changes and that’s a tiny glimpse of March into April.
I worked long days and weekends. I love what I do and it was actually a great adrenaline rush every day to see what would happen next.
Then, the frantic pace began to slow and we began to find new routines at work and home. And I began to wonder how I would pass time. Sure, it’s great fun to have time with the boys, but they like video games and playing together so I knew I would have some time to kill.
I don’t do crafts. I don’t bake. I hate yard work. I don’t sew. I was needing a good way to spend my time through the spring and probably the whole summer.
Sometime in April, I saw a post for the Great Race Across TN. It was to be a 1000K and run from May 1 to August 31. It was going to be hosted by race organizing icons!
Doing the math, that’s a lot more running than I have done regularly since at least 2012.
Logically, I signed up.
Some days, it’s been great fun. Others, every step makes me wish for the run to be over.
Without all the places to go, one would think I am less busy.
Nope.
I have miles to go. Miles before work. Miles after work. Miles on weekends. I get to run miles with Jackson and some days, Karson will come “workout” while I am in the treadmill.
I run/strength training in the morning at least two days per week. I run every day after work and on weekends.
I passed Sewanee today. I am ahead of the buzzard (cutoff symbol) and am on track to finish this thing.
Each day, the miles continue. I am rediscovering my overall love for running. The highs and the challenges and all the miles in between.
So, if you need me, I am likely logging some miles.
See you on the roads! KA
P.S. - I am going to keep going when the #GVRAT1000K is over. Who knows where my miles may take me!