My First Post

Today is my first entry into the family blog.

I write for a living, but I am surprised by how intimidating writing in a family blog is for me.

To coin a phrase for a client is one thing. To express my love for my family is quite something else... the topics are connected to me in deep and mysterious ways.. most of which I cannot really express..

But, today I am going to press on to do this thing... and say something..

Something about Joy...

Today I drove her to a 5k run where two of her "runners" were competing.

There was Sara, a small but mighty fireplug of a girl... with legs that shout, "Catch me if you can."

And there was Chuck, an early 40's physician focused on staying in shape... with a great sense of humor.

From the parking lot, the walk to the starting area was long. Joy is in hip surgery recovery, using a crutch, and wearing a grey hip brace that strangely resembles a western style gun holster. When I look at her wearing that brace, I half expect her to pull out a six gun, point it at me and say, "Your money or your life... Cowboy!"

But, I digress.

The main message I want to convey is, that i had an experience today, which reminded me again, what a subtle but profound impact Joy has on her runners.

What she does like no one else does, in perfect synchronization, she happily fills her runners and her family with her life knowledge on demand.

Somehow, it manages to always be the exact kind of life knowledge that they really need at that moment... and the exact kind of knowledge that exists in no one else... then she fills them with her love.. and then she enthusiastically sends them out in the world to run or do whatever stuff they do.

Which they then go ahead and do... But, not without coming back to tell her all about it.

Because, for some reason, whatever stuff they do, isn't nearly as important, if Joy doesn't know about it, and tell them how great they are.

I watch this process happen over and over, and yet I remain mystified by it. I can't explain it. But, I know it when I see it.

I see it in the face of a 40-year-old physician, as he looks for Joy to tell him what pace he should run the first mile... the second mile... the third mile... How far he should run during warm-up... how hard should he push? When?

I see the essence of Joy most intensely in the eye contact everyone has with her when they talk to her.

It is always direct from both parties.. unblinking... for long unbroken periods of time.

I happen to have a theory about that eye contact... it is the path of her love source. In those eyes you see infinite empathy.. you see caring.. you see encouragement.

And you see love.. delivered in her fiber optic, 4G big packet delivery system which Verizon will never duplicate.. in my lifetime.

"Can you hear me now?" Verizon asks?

The people Joy loves never have to ask that question.

They know they could never go anywhere her love would not find them..

And hold them up... and send them back out there to do stuff.

News Anyone? Would Love to Hear...

Update on my hip:  One month post-op...   I STILL have to wear the brace and use a crutch, one more week.  Yesterday as I went in for physical therapy, I asked my PT if the time had come to get rid of them.  No...   the doc said four weeks from my post-surgery visit with him, which was a week after surgery.  So that means five weeks from surgery, which is next Wednesday, May 4.  The doctor wants just partial weight-bearing on the hip (use the crutch), and limited movement of the joint (the brace).  PT consists of very small isolated movements with left side hip and leg...  muscles are weak and hurt.  I am still supposed to limit my time on my feet.  BUT, I do see some improvement from when I began PT two weeks ago, so I guess the physical therapy is working!

Okay, enough about me.  I know there are lots of interesting stories out there just waiting to be told.  I want to hear them!

I know that Liz Frantz was recently offered a full-time position where she is working.  She's worked very hard over the past six months and has learned so much.  Congratulations, Liz, I would love to hear more...

And, Stephanie Donahue has begun writing her dissertation.  She's at the University of Memphis working toward her doctorate in counseling psychology.  How's it going, Steph?

And how is Baby Michael doing, Susana?  And big brother Jack?

Dad, are you hearing any better now, one month post-op from your surgery?

Are the storms in the South and Midwest affecting anyone?  

What time is it in Shanghai right now?

Anyone?

A Start

I decided I would start a FAMILY BLOG, where anyone connected with ME in any way could join in, post comments, photos, news, or anything else of interest... as one way to keep up with the lives of everyone in our HUGE family. 

I'll start...

...with a photo of my Cristin sent this morning of her Mateo sleeping, on arrival in Shanghai, China.  She, husband Armando, and son Mateo are there for the next couple months as Armando is the cinematographer for a feature film directed by a Chinese friend of his (I hope I got that right).  It was a 13-hour flight and Cristin tells me Mateo did great and they are in the process of settling in now.

 Sleeping Shanghai Baby

 

Soooooo, please join in--I think this could be fun!  And pass it on...