May 7, 2017 TIP TOE THRU THE TULIPS WITH ME

Ran our last LONG run before the 1/2 marathon. It was a wet, humid 11 miles but there was a nice BREEZE that made it bearable. My legs and feet felt good too-- thanks to my new $127 sneakers--so much for the Dansko trunk show--it will have to wait. Did run out of energy though by mile 9-10. Going to have to get a few GU for the race. I'm telling you now--the LAST 2 miles are going to be torture--but on RACE day I'll just GUT it out--because I have to. Today I ran an easy 4--took time to stop and smell the flowers along the way. The lilacs are finally blooming. One of my favorite flowers. They just take me back in time. One whiff and I'm on the farm hanging upside down from an apple tree, collecting eggs in the coop or running away from Mrs. Apple and the other cows chasing me across the field. The lilac bush is a constant reminder to me of all that is good. Whenever I see a bush in bloom, I have to stop for a moment to appreciate its lovely, delicate scent.   I have two lilac bushes. One, a wedding gift from my sister-in-law and the other a seedling from the farm taken after spreading my grandparents ashes there. In some strange way they give me a sense of peace--I eagerly wait from them to bloom each season. They mark the passage of time and help me to remember good times. They make me smile. All this talk about flowers made me think of a wonderful classic I have read several times, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.
Originally, Keyes wrote this as a short story in 1959 and it won several awards. He decided to rework the story into a novel that was published in 1966. THANKFULLY. It won the Nebula award for best new novel and was  made into a movie in 1968 called CHARLY. This movie earned Cliff Robertson an Academy Award for best actor. Here's the premise. Image that you have an IQ of 68 but qualify for an operation that will increase your IQ to the genius level--would you have the operation??  Charlie Gordon is the test subject who agrees to this operation because he is desperate to be like every one else. Told in epistolary style, a series of progress reports, Charlie chronicles his life before the surgery and after, until his final regression. This is a story about the way the mentally disabled are treated and the correlation between happiness, intellect and emotion. It's a wonderful story. This novel has sold over 5 million copies since 1966 and has NEVER been out of print. The other interesting tidbit about this novel is that it is the most frequently challenged book on the ALA list--censored over the years by many a school system. I have taught the short story which is more like a novella many times and my students LOVE it. It's an opportunity to learn about difference. It's also an opportunity to learn about intelligence--the Howard Gardiner Model. We are all intelligent in different ways and that's what makes us all unique and important. Pick up this inspirational story--it's about 300 pages --about a topic that never grows old. WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE.

May 5, 2017 IT ALL DEPENDS

Depends. Has it really come to that??? I guess that just depends. I've found--ESPECIALLY--after having 3 kids that the muscle control isn't what it used to be. Kegel exercises are supposed to help.!?! SURE. I love how MALE doctors tell you that one. Anyways, after several mishaps usually when running--I thought I would share some of the modifications I've had to make over the years.  If you feel a sneeze coming on--BY GOLLY--squat, sit but NEVER REMAIN STANDING--or you're a goner. Next.  DO NOT--I repeat--DO NOT EVER have a laughing jag while standing up either or you're likely to lose it-- in more ways than one--I have VAST experience with this one. And last but certainly not least--If you're going to run after a long day--wear a light jacket because it can actually double as a towel.  Wrap it around your waist and the dreaded evidence is gone--just like that! Seriously though--Depends--I thought they were for old people right??? Not sure how you feel about the book I'm going to review today--that all depends on how you feel about bookshops.

First of all, I can think of NO greater place than a bookstore. I don't mean a chain bookstore--I'm talking about independent bookstores.  A wave of excitement washes over me just thinking about them--like I've just died and gone to heaven. I could literally spend an entire day drowning in books--as giddy a a school girl! If you feel this way too then this book is for you. Lewis Buzbee wrote this memoir/history book a few years back called The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop. Buzbee has been in the book business his entire life. First as a book clerk in several stores, later as a bookseller then publisher's sale rep.  and finally as an author. He has literally spent his career in bookshops. His novel is a celebration of bookshops--the new book smell, the feel of the cover, the forest of books to navigate, the aroma of coffee--that is unique to bookshops. It's about feeling passionate enough to spend an entire afternoon poking around for just the right book even though you already have a giant stack at home waiting to be read.  Interwoven in this memoir is also the history of bookstores and the book selling business. Buzbee takes the reader from the Alexandria library which contains over a million papyrus scrolls--to Classical Rome--China--all the way to the modern bookstore-- highlighting some of his favorites including Sylvia Beach's famous Paris bookstore and Shakespeare & Co along the way. If you appreciate books the way I do, then do yourself a favor and read this book. It's about 190 pages--or a 4 mile run--that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Enjoy!

May 3, 2017 GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES

Couldn't wait to get out for a run this afternoon--great weather--the sun was shining and the breeze was wonderful!!  BIG MISTAKE--HORRIBLE RUN--how could that be???  You never know. I ran four miles today and felt like I ran 40. Pretty sure my legs were telephone poles--felt like I was dragging 25 pound weights on my ankles too. The only good part was when it was over.  It's such a crapshoot REALLY. Just when I'm feeling good about my running--even confident about the race--POOF--it's gone.  Maybe it was getting up at 6:00--working all day--laundry--cooking--running at 5:30--dehydration--hunger--weariness. Or maybe I just need new sneakers. WHO KNOWS. I do know THAT I literally had to force myself to finish--I couldn't QUIT. It was such a DOWNER though--felt so good running 10 miles ONLY two days ago. Okay-- I'm just going to let it go-- move on--TRY NOT to over think it too much.  Tomorrow is another day right??  Not going to get TOO hung up on this thing--oh yeah--I already said that. It's just so FRUSTRATING. Dissed by my own body. UGH!  Good thing I have a short attention span. It seems to gets progressively shorter by the end of every school year too.  That's why I decided to read a collection of short stories by Dan Chaon this week. No pressure, like starting a new book every day.

Chaon is a highly regarded author who is especially noted for his short stories. He was a finalist for the National Book Award a few years ago for his gripping tales in Among the Missing. In this collection of 12 stories, Chaon explores many themes including grief, guilt, loneliness, and my personal favorite--a struggle against the past. All of his characters are dealing with some type of trauma--physical, emotional or even with the paranormal. Some of these sorry souls are haunted and damaged, while others  have unfulfilled dreams that ultimately lead them  astray and  into unexpected places with devastating consequences. I love reading his books because Chaon intrigues me. He really has the ability to understand his characters  in an uncanny way.  His perception of the human condition is second to none as Chaon knows how they think--what motivates them-- what they really need--which is usually at odds with what is best for them. While some stories are intense, others are suspenseful, even bordering  on insanity. One thing is true though--ALL are unsettling and haunting. NONE will end well because the characters are too disturbed.  Each story will leave you feeling thankful that you navigated this journey known as life and weathered the storm better than his characters--hopefully.  This is an easy to read book of about 275 pages--or a 5 mile run--that's like an onion--it has too many layers to explain. Enjoy.

April 30, 2017 FLY LIKE AN EAGLE

There's REALLY nothing better than running 10 miles and STILL FEELING STRONG. Had a great run today and the weather was FINE. I could have run the half-marathon without a problem. Hopefully, I'll feel this way on the day of the race too.  Going to try to run a 9:30 pace--or about 2:05.  It's doable as long as the weather cooperates. Would like to run it in under 2 hours--a 9:00 pace--but not sure I will be able to sustain that for 13.1 miles. I like to set goals--but they are flexible--to a point. I would be lying if I said--all I want to do is finish the race. Of course I do, but with a LITTLE dignity. I  have a few comrades running the race--healthy competition. It's fun to kid each other about the race--but I do have my pride--and although we are comrades--I WILL work hard to beat them. It's bragging rights-- we all want to beat each other--it's the nature of the beast-- but it's ALL in good fun. Seriously, even though we compete against each other, they literally are the people who make me a better runner. Believe me,  I'd be LOLLYGAGGING my way to the finish line without them. So thanks for the memories. Helen Macdonald  had to deal with memories and depression after the sudden death of her father in the 2014 memoir H is for Hawk. 

After learning that her father, Alisdair Macdonald  had died of a sudden heart attack, Helen Macdonald was devastated and grief stricken. She was very close to her father, a photo journalist, who introduced his daughter to the beauty of nature and encouraged her to become a falconer at a young age. While in the throes of a numbing depression, Helen rashly decided to train a goshawk named Mabel. This is her story-- one season spent training a hawk while trying to shed the veil of depression brought on by her father's death. The prose is lovely as the reader is enveloped in the beauty that surrounds Helen as she trains Mabel. Training a hawk is not like training a pet. A hawk is not a pet and the only way to train one is to think like one. It's about the relationship she develops with the goshawk as she has to fully enter the world of this predator in order  to be successful. Also intertwined in this memoir, is Helen's obvious love of T. H. White--Arthurian novelist and fellow hawk enthusiast. She writes extensively about White's falconry over a century ago, they seem like kindred spirits, separated only by time. I enjoyed reading this book because it was well written and I also learned a lot about falconry and the world of the goshawk. It was fascinating. This memoir has won several awards and is well worth the read. It's about 280 pages or a 5 mile run that shows we all heal from tragedy in different ways.

April 26, 2017 STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

There is truly NOTHING more beautiful than springtime. We all see it in one way or another, but running allows me to witness the changes--UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.  Some of the flowering trees are amazing right now.  One day they are naked--skeleton-like-- then gradually they bud--AND--blossom like a peacock's tail. Stunning. And the perennial gardens are all astir. Rose bushes, peonies, poppies, clematis and all types of hosta plants are waking up from their slumber--getting ready to strut their stuff.  Can't wait to see them in all their finery. Every year I tell myself I'm going to draw a map of my gardens so that I will remember what will bloom and when-- but then time gets away from me and the next thing I know I'm saying--I wonder what I planted there! That's okay--I like to be surprised. So it shouldn't come as any great surprise that we have to put up with ALL this  rain in April-- take the good with the bad. Luckily, it's not so bad running in the rain this time of year. At least it's warmer outside. I look forward to spring and a new season of running too.  New sneakers, running gear--maybe a few new visors. It's what keeps me motivated, committed and on track. Bring it on!! Speaking of committed, one of the main characters in Sebastian Barry's wonderful novel The Secret Scripture was also committed--to Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital.

This unforgettable story is set in Ireland and is told in two voices--Rosanne McNulty, a woman of  almost 100 years old, who has spent the last 60 years in an asylum, and her psychiatrist Dr. Grene--who is charged with deciding the future care of the patients in the asylum because the hospital is closing down. After finding her secret journal, Dr. Grene is intrigued by Rosanne's story and is determined to find out the real circumstances surrounding her commitment because there appear to be two "versions" of her story. Was she the victim of the Irish Catholic Church in the early 1900's or was she truly insane? This is a story of conflicting memories, and two versions of the past. It's also a story of love, loss, religion, and grief in a backwards society where justice came in many forms.  Dr. Grene uncovers a shocking secret that will effect everyone involved.  There is a surprise ending that you will never see coming--I slammed into it like a brick wall and was flabbergasted.  Anyways, I loved this book-- it's about 300 pages or a 5 mile run that will leave you shaking your head asking  WHY???

April 24, 2017 HAPPY DAYS

I was saddened to read that Erin Morin from Happy Days died. That was one of my favorite televisions shows when I was a kid. I remember how excited I was when Joanie & Chachi got married. So much for television--pure fantasy. Morin seems to have had a tough, unhappy  life.... depression, poverty and even homelessness were her reality--eventually--succumbing to cancer. Very Sad. Stardom  didn't solve her problems--they ran too deep. People think that fame and money will ensure happiness but that's not the case. Money can NEVER buy happiness--it can make you more comfortable in life--but that's it. It must have been difficult for her in other ways too. Here she was on the most popular T.V. show for 11 seasons and then--POOF--it was gone. That could throw anyone for a loop--unless they are very grounded. Perhaps running could have helped her. It helps people deal with depression, anxiety and addiction every single day.  It can also bring others spiritual healing-- a sense of calm--a center. Running is a win-win.  Did you know it also helps in the prevention of cancer, improves memory loss, strengthens bones AND even adds longevity to life? These are all great reasons to throw on a pair of sneakers and get out there today right?  If you need more inspiration, check out Gail Waesche Kislevitz's book First Marathons--Personal Encounters with the 26.2-Mile Monster.

This motivating book is a collection of 37 stories  focusing on both novice and elite runners who have run the marathon. The novice runners come in all shapes and sizes--young--old--male--female--with one message--ANYONE CAN RUN A MARATHON. It just takes commitment, and discipline--both of which are easier said than done. The training is HARD but gratifying  in SO many ways as told by each runner. The marathon is  really a personal journey. Yes, you can train with partners but in the end you have to run it yourself. It's really interesting to get inside the head of each runner, especially, during the last 6.1 miles to find out how they got through it. In addition to novice runners, several elite runners  including Bill Rodgers, Ted Corbitt, Grete Waitz and Mystic's own John Kelley-- tell the story of their first marathon too. Loved reading about them, but since I'm clearly a novice runner, I was really drawn to their stories.  These are everyday people who just made the commitment--for a variety of reasons--including weight loss--mental health--even physical health as one of the runners gave up his 4 pack a day smoking habit to run his first marathon. Whether you are looking for the motivation to run a 5K, 10K, or even a marathon--this is the book for you. It's not a training guide but  a book to rouse your spirit and get you moving. It's about 350 pages--maybe a 5 mile run--that will inspire you to move!

April 22, 2017 I WONDER IF I TAKE YOU HOME

Remember when you were young and staying up until 3:00 a.m. was as normal as brushing your teeth?? I SURE DO. We'd be out until some UNGODLY hour--grab 2-3 hours of sleep--go to work--set the repeat button and do it all over again. WHEW--Those days are LONG gone. I stayed up til midnight last night and felt like I got hit by a bus this morning.  I was exhausted when I dragged my sorry self out of bed--determined to go for a run. It wasn't pretty believe me. Wanted to get in a long one but that will have to wait until tomorrow--5 miles felt like a marathon today. I could barely get out of my own way. It was WELL worth it though as it was for book club. Probably never mentioned this before, but I belong to a book club. We get together about once a month and have for about 12 years. We have been through a lot together--babies, teenagers, marriages, death-- we weather it all and try to support each other as best we can. We are all very different--sometimes our personalities and ideas clash but we make it work because we respect each other and genuinely care about each other. So last night, I was enjoying the company of my book club buddies--making merry--letting off some steam and that's all I can say because WHAT HAPPENS AT BOOK CLUB STAYS AT BOOK CLUB--it's our motto and I'm sticking to it. Leo Gursky also sticks to his promise made 60 years earlier in Nicole Krauss's wonderful novel of 2005 The History of Love. 

First of all, I must confess that it took me a LONG time to read this novel because I hated the title. It sounded so cliche that I was turned off. Thankfully, I got over myself and read this unforgettable book. It's on my bookshelf as one that I will most certainly read again. This beautifully written novel seamlessly alternates three different storylines that ultimately fuse together by the end of the book. It's the story of a book written before the Holocaust--lost for several generations--that reappears and is mysteriously connected to Leo Gursky, an old man living in New York City. Leo survived the Holocaust by hiding in the forest for three years before making his way to the United States only to find that his soul mate is married to someone else. It's also the story of a 15 year old girl named Alma who is named after the main character in the missing book. She is trying to keep her family together after the death of her father. Her mother is sad and withdrawn living in her own world as a translator of books. Her brother, Bird, is living in his own world too as he believes that he is the Messiah and is totally out of touch with reality. This book explores the reality of  war,  lost love, broken promises, loneliness and the written word that ultimately draws them all together. It's also a story of  hope,  the power of human connection and  our need to be remembered by future generations. This lovely gem is about 250 pages--maybe a 5 mile run. It's a journey of about 70 years that is both heartbreaking and beautiful.