Okay, with a challenging century planned on Saturday, weather permitting, followed by a 55-mile return trip on Sunday, I thought I should get in a fairly casual 20-some miler today. My group was riding at 5:30, and I figured I'd go out with them, and head back on my own from our regular first stop.
I could see that plan start to fall apart when oldest called me shortly before lunch, asking where her mom was. She was having a lot of pain from her chronic illness, needed to go to the ER, and wanted to ask her mom to pick up the kids. I knew mom was going to be incommunicado until lunch time, but would probably be available. I also knew that meant the possibility of 6 grandkids at the house after work instead of the usual two, and that might mean a rearrangement of my plans.
I wasn't prepared for the phone to ring again at 4:15. Mrs. tg had all six grandkids and one grown daughter with her, and a van with a dead battery. Ugh. So I go get her jump started and safely home, but it's clear I'm going to have to take the older grandkids home when mom's ready. There goes the group ride. By the time I get back to the house it's nearly sunset, but I still have to get a ride in today. Tomorrow evening is too close to Saturday.
So instead of the easy ride I had planned, I'm now pushing for all I'm worth trying to get just a dozen miles in before it gets completely dark. And as I'm riding out, I'm growing more and more frustrated over how I'm pushing much harder than I wanted to, and resenting how things have worked out.
Then I started to realize how lucky I really am. I had a perfectly functional second vehicle to go help out my wife with. I'm healthy, not having to deal with all the issues my daughter has to face all the time, and able to ride so vigorously in response to my frustration. I was able to spend unexpected time with my grandkids. It remains to be seen whether my planned ride this weekend, about which I'm pretty excited, will come to fruition. In short, I really needed to shift my focus such that I wasn't so consumed by the fact that my plans were short-circuited and remember how many blessings I have.
I'm amazed at how a good workout can help redirect my energy so that I can see things more clearly.
Amen, Brother TG, Amen!
ReplyDeletewait, which Yankee did I mention? How many brain cells have I lost over the last 40 years?!!?
ReplyDeleteElston Howard was a Yankee, mostly, ending his career with Boston. So while his name looked vaguely familiar, I didn't recognize him as an Oriole, and I remember some fairly obscure Birds from back then. I had to look him up.
ReplyDeleteAs for your missing brain cells, I'm afraid I can't help you there. I have entirely too much trouble keeping track of my own . . .
Dang it, I meant Elrod Hendricks! Well, at least the initials are the same.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, Elrod! I can see why you'd confuse their names. The last time I went to a game at OP@CY - early this decade - I was surprised to look over and see that he was the bullpen coach.
ReplyDelete