Ironman/Ironwoman

Sunday, I rode the Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride. 100 miles. The first 83 were a blast. Even when it started to rain. We felt like we were flying along in the rain...and on rutty broken pavement...but then...

Snow. Then sleet. Then wind. My friend David and I just looked at each other and laughed. It was so miserable, we couldn't even begin to complain.

We did, however, check on each other periodically: "Can you feel your feet? Okay, good. It's not just me." "Are your hands numb? Is it shooting up your arms?" "My legs are like frozen tired pistons. They only have one speed and there's no way they're going faster." (That last was me; David probably could have gone faster. I couldn't).

Fun, let me tell you. But we survived!

Carol, David, Rachael, Loretta, Lisa, Steve, Danielle, Lee, and all the friends who also rode--we are ironpeople!

Funerals and Getting Over God

Marla's funeral was something. A real tribute to an amazing woman, rather than a weeping and wailing mourning service. I saw people I hadn't seen for 34 years, and had to introduce myself to lots of people.

Some of you know, I'm working on a memoir about my life as a Pastor's Wife. That chapter of my life ended twenty years ago; however, the effects of it linger...I don't feel as if there are any lasting negative effects, once I got over my guilt for leaving the life.

Now, I think the effects are simply that I think seriously about spiritual matters. I can't take them lightly, even though sometimes I'd like to. I read any essay by Julia Sweeney (thanks, Stever), and many of her struggles were exactly parallel to mine. Her final conclusion is that there can be no god. I guess I still struggle with reaching that final conclusion, but I'm thinking about it a lot. Maybe I'll keep you posted!

Funeral

I'm heading to Iowa this afternoon. My cousin Marla died, and I need to be down there with my family. It's hard to believe. She died of cancer and has been sick a long time, but she was only two grades ahead of me in school. It's very strange.

I'm reading The Secret Life of Bees right now and I don't want to put it down. I should never start a good book when I'm this close to finals week and grading research papers! Ack! But I recommend the book. Great voice, great main characters. Complex emotions, and Sue Monk Kidd's prose is amazing. Beautiful.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog.

I have always felt that these blog things were a bit self-involved, like gazing at one's own belly-button. I'm on a couple joint blogs, but haven't ventured into my own until now. I guess it's time to hop on the bandwagon and blog.

It's rainy and chilly tonight, but it's finally spring. Finally! I got 90-some miles in on my bike this week, so I can't complain too much. Ironman bike ride this Sunday. I'm registered for 100 miles.
And best of all: I wore flip-flops to school!

Italy countdown: I leave in three weeks and three days for Italy and Greece with 82 students (yes, I know I'm insane) and six other chaperones. I have to survive finals and research papers first.

Then, it will be summer, and I can work on my writing projects! More about those soon...