58 years

Last night I had the pleasure of celebrating my Inlaws 58 years of marriage.  58 years!  In true Melang style, five people turned into ten, luckily we have the planners in our family so there was water, wine, cheese, fruit and crackers.  Thinking about them and knowing them for the over 25 years I've been married, I've noticed a few things:

Marriage is a give and take, just like raising a family.  You pick your battles, and your spouse realizes that when you do pick a battle it usually is something pretty important to you, so they take a second look at it.  And you do the same with the things that are important to them.

A long and happy marriage is a long chain of memories.  It was fun listening to the different memories, watching how they would look at each other for some of them, the important ones.  I was glad I had the pleasure of being there for some of them and see my own marriage as that - a long chain of memories that bind us together.

Marriage is a surrender of self to the both of you.  The longer you stay married the more you become one, that the joining ceremony is only that just a ceremony.  It takes a life time to learn how to live together, and heck, maybe we never fully learn it.

Marriage requires laughter, because like life once you lighten up and learn how to laugh things just get so much easier.  Like the battles, the laughter, sometimes at ones self teaches you that many things pass, the laughter and the memories are what we remember the most.

There is no regret in marriage, because everything that's happened along the lifetime happens for a reason.  A regret you may have is a memory built in someone else's life.

Marriage requires saying you are sorry, and meaning it.  It also requires forgiving, and letting it go.  Easy words to write but some of the hardest things to do.

I am lucky that not only do I get to celebrate 58 years with two very special people, but I feel part of a family that is built upon.  My better half and I have been practicing these traits the better part of 25 years and like his parents hopefully we've got many, many more.

Go O's!!!

Reliving my childhood with my boys.
An O's game at Camden Yards.
I remember going with my family
And as we screamed CHARGE
I created that memory for my family.
Fireworks top the night
Memories for all!

What Boys Do.....

Always question when there is quiet in the house.

I came out to the back deck to my boys.

Playing Fruit Ninja with REAL knives and REAL watermelon!

Luckily the only thing harmed in these pictures were watermelon rinds.

Funny, their look when I told them it was dangerous.

What?  You can't play fruit ninja with real fruit?

Am I a Mom to boys?  Yes, because I had to take a few pictures before making them stop!!

That's One Way To Dry Off

How does some warm concrete feel after a dip in the pool?

Pretty good.

Wish these old bones could do that too.

Maybe a little WD-40 for them?

Day 1 - EOG

I like the feeling of freedom in this picture.

I and they are counting down the days.

Specifically 2 until all the testing is done.

And school officially becomes nothing but waiting a few more days to freedom.

This will be the same picture as we drive to the beach.

But I bet there is a smile on his face.

Bluebird day

Nice 8 mile run,1 mile walk.

It is almost chilly!!

I love it.

The best part?  It's 5 o'clock and the children have decided they are going "Out Into The Wild" decked with airsoft guns, back packs, and hammer because, "you never know when you'll need a hammer."

Me?  I'm thinking about two women at a retirement home that started a story yesterday and may get a little editing today.

Life on Manly Street

I couldn't live on Manly Street

Too much testosterone, too many muscle shirts, tight jeans

Everyone out mowing at the same time to see who would finish first.

No indoor bathrooms because they need room to hold peeing contests.

Not a single toilet seat down - anywhere, any how.

The sound of engines reeving, chainsaws grinding.

I couldn't live on Manly Street

Because we all know who really wears the pants in the house.

Strawberries!

We went strawberry picking, or should I say strawberry eating.

The rule of thumb was pick one/eat two.

Max ended up with some strawberry juice left on his chin.

Always makes me think of doing this with my Mom in Ocean City.

Looking for blueberries or strawberries

Then holding our stomachs and groaning all the way home.

You know you love your dog

When she goes out and rolls in poop

And you don't let her sit in it for a few hours.

No, you take her to the sink

Gently give her a bath - all while she acts like you are violating her.

Then finish with a butt hair trim and eye booger dig out.

Yes, you love them.

And most times they love you right back.

Except she's pissed off at me right now.

Goodbye National Poetry Month

Seriously, I'm a little glad the month is gone..it is much easier to handle National Running Month than national Poetry Month.  Here's my last poem in celebration:

Lines In the Sand

I feel that line dissolving

In how I relate to you.

I see my old prejudices

Melting like the snow

In the sun of new found

Answers

To things I never questioned.

The line had always been

drawn

don't cross it, don't

question

That's the way it is.

But now we are

people

I don't see that line

The one I crossed

Once meeting you.

A child's love

I found a little gift today.

Something from the heart.

It gave me a few tears,

Just to start.

Handmade is the best,

using an old favorite toy.

Handwriting getting clearer

from a sweet little boy.

It says what's in his heart

those sweet I Love You's

simple, yet powerful phrase.

to me a dream come true.

A simple little gift,

made with love that's pure

is the perfect little gift

From  a Mom's love safe and sure!

Add a little this

Cooking in the kitchen,

the smells fill the air.

Adding in the color

Give it a little flair.

Round of olive oil

some chicken and some rice

A little soy sauce

Flavors it just right.

Peppers, carrots and onions

give it a healthful twist,

some ginger and hoisin sauce

cannot be missed.

Something's missing,

It doesn't have any heat

Ahh, a little sirachi chili sauce,

cannot be beat.

Setting it on the table

Everyone gives me a smile

Hey, maybe they'll eat it,

and I'll be out of the kitchen for a while.

Carry On

When the world tries to knock you down

You can stay there

or 

You can stand back up 

And keep carrying on.

When someone tries to ram

their message down your throat

you can give their voice

a platform

or you can stand back up

and keep carrying on.

When things want to weigh

down our spirit

accept that you 

cannot change them

but you can stand back up

and keep carrying on.

Those that are lost

are the voices we hear
not the words of those that 
want to perpetuate fear

so stand back up

and keep carrying on.

The birthday Party

How much fun can

You pack in a year?

Enough to fill a backyard

With kids and laser gear?

Can you take your age

in a slice of ice cream cake?

Then double it twice

For Pete's sake?

Can there be a shout of laughter

For each year

Maybe adding another one

to cover each tear?

Making the birthday fun

Seems the fitting end

To celebrate another year gone by

With family and friends.

Please oh, please

Please oh, please let me get to them

There are not that far away.

Why do they not fly

Why do they stay?

Don't they see me, the ferocious dog

Hunter of the bird?

Don't they shake on their perches,

Why are they so absurd.

I'll sit here and bide my time,

relaxing as they play,

Knowing the minute that door opens,

Oh happy DAY!

They are MINE to stay!

If a Moose Came to Visit

Funny, we saw a Moose today on the ride up the mountain.

If a moose came to visit, 

Would anyone believe me?

Would they think I just made it up?

Of that he was actually out there to ski?

If a moose came to visit, 

I'd let him in through the door

I'd let him in my room,

Especially if he didn't snore.

Did you know he likes bagels, 

Especially when soft and warm,

He'll even add a little red pepper jelly,

Because he thinks that's the norm.

The problem is how he'll fit in my home,

His antlers are too tall,

He'll take out the furniture, be careful,

the lamps, the shades, he'd take it all.

How could I feed this animal, this burley beast,

Should I feel him my lunch from school,

Perhaps a Lean Cuisine, 

Naw, he wouldn't think it was cool.

If a Moose came to visit, it'd be so fun.

we'd eat fun stuff, he go on the run.

But i'd have to let him go, to let him free.

Because a Moose in my home is not the best place to be.

Weary....

What a great day on the mountain.

This is our morning run - ahead is an historic abandoned silver mine.

With the lift next to us that takes us to the summit.

Snow was great, lots of fresh trax for the morning.

It was hard work, but so much fun

Finally on the long runs back to the middle of town and our condo.

So excited we get to do it again.

Art at the Heart - Clay!

52 students!

Exhausting

But so well worth it.

Resident rockstar by the number of hugs I received as I sent them home.

4:44 minute mile?

Way to go Jay.  Fell into the meet.

Screaming and yelling like a fool.

He ran a mile in 4:44

Max celebrated because technically that was his birthday.

He told Jay that's why he did it.

As a runner, I am amazed.

As a friend, I am blown away.

Way to go Jay!!

Evil little things

I've stepped on them.
Washed and dried them
Found them in places you'll never imagine.
But both boys still build with them,
So I can't let go of them just yet.