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Friday, October 14, 2011

Perspective


I really wanted Samantha to set a PR (personal record) today in her cross country meet.  I wanted it because she wanted it, and she’s been busting her chops to make it happen.  She was incredibly disappointed last week when her expectation to PR was foiled, and I wanted her to see that hard work eventually pays off. 

I really wanted her to PR.

I fed her a carb filled dinner the night before.

I wrote an encouraging note and put it in her lunch.

I made sure she had a full water bottle and we both climbed in the car to head for school.  “I love you Mom,” she said as I dropped her off.  “I love you too,” I managed before she shut the door and I watched her blond hair and green eyes disappear through the double doors.

Later this afternoon I showed up to the race across town.  With some time to spare before Sam's heat started I made my way up to the memorial on the hill, a place I had intended to visit before but ran out of time.  I read the sign at the entrance outlining “no cell phones”, “no climbing on walls”, and additional requests for certain levels of propriety.  I scanned the area to take note of the others meandering the memorial. 

Teenagers. 


They were quiet, walking slowly and deliberately, and following all the rules.  Circling the memorial they stopped to read the tributes engraved on the flattened, polished boulders.

It’s been over 11 years since Columbine, a massacre laid out on a group of students who had been dropped off that morning of April 20th just like Samantha had been this morning.  I walked the path that honored the victims through stories, accomplishments, their goals and beliefs.  They were deeply personal and I was deeply moved.

It’s been a long time since that awful day.  

I came to the race wanting Samantha to PR.  I left feeling grateful just to have her here.

Grateful she could run at all.

12 comments:

Stefani said...

I like...
thanks for the reminder

anitamombanita said...

very touching. thanks Vern.

Mom of Three said...

Beautiful and so true.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Wow.
Ya, so true.
Thanks for the reminder of what really matters.
I'm really grateful that they respect that memorial and that the kids can feel it too.

mormonhermitmom said...

Ain't it the truth.

Mortensen Baby Farm said...

Whoa! Thanks...I really needed that!

ganelle said...

Great post

Anonymous said...

So, I have had problem feet for about 8 years...I'm most comfortable in sneakers with orthotics....Found a new foot specialist, recommended by a friend..I was feeling really sorry for myself when she fitted me in size 13 MENS shoes.....until I remembered all our young servicemen coming home without feet...Perspective is a very good thing....

Anonymous said...

Sometimes we need a reminder that it's great to be living our lives. Thank you! I'm sure she did great in her race, too.

Emily said...

My cousin's husband was there that day, and he still doesn't talk about it. He's John Savage: "At 11:37 a.m., the shooters moved to the center of the library, where they continued to reload their weapons at a table midway across the room. Harris noticed a student nearby, and asked him to identify himself. The student was John Savage, an acquaintance of Klebold's. Savage asked Klebold what they were doing, to which Klebold replied, "Oh, just killing people." Savage asked if they were going to kill him. Klebold said "What?" because the fire alarms were going off. Savage asked again if they were going to kill him. Klebold hesitated, and then told him to leave the library. Savage fled immediately, and escaped via the library's main entrance.

After Savage was gone, Harris turned and fired his carbine at the table directly north of where they'd been, hitting Daniel Mauser in the face at close range, killing him. Both shooters moved south from there and fired randomly under another table, critically injuring Jennifer Doyle and Austin Eubanks, and fatally wounding Corey DePooter. DePooter, the last victim of the massacre, was credited with keeping his friends calm during the ordeal."

Lani Wendt Young said...

This is a powerful and moving post. Thank you.

Randi said...

Always good to have some perspective, isn't it?
Thanks for the reminder.


Also I can't believe you were 2 blocks from my house and we didn't even make a Sonic run.