Parting - Shirts and Medals

Her first 5K was across the Luling Bridge crossing the Mississippi River west of New Orleans. April 13, 2002.  SHE ran with my husband, I am the cheerleader.  At the end there was beer and jambalaya to celebrate.  SHE was hooked.  SHE was fifty one, her time was thirty three minutes and forty eight seconds.  She came in 136th out of 725 women. After this, much was to follow, 5K's, 10K's, half marathons, marathons, neighborhood runs.  I filled a 30 gallon tub with running shirts.

The first two shirts and medals went to guardian angels.  Without these temporary humans she would not have been blessed with one additional year of life.  They worked behind the scenes to keep her safe that summer of 2010, had extraordinary perceptions and connections.  Is there any way to express gratitude?  The shirt on the left is from the Marine Corp Marathon, perhaps the hardest race she ever ran our brother said who was her companion and champion on many of her runs.  And the Chicago Marathon 2003 shirt on the right was favorite,  the first of many Chicago runs.

I didn't think to take a photo of everything before I started to part.  Her medals hung in a group on the mirror door of her medicine cabinet, inspiration I think from the first moments in the morning.  These are just some of them.  It was a fine balancing act for her to keep them all on the mirror.  

The parting of shirts and medals was actually started by her and how I thought to pass these on.  What powers they should bring to the new owner.  My suggestion to a couple of people was to wear it as an undershirt, Superman style, to give them that breakout strength needed for tough times.  SHE certainly knew about that.

SHE gave the first shirts to our scrawny bird-legged niece, young wife and mom and now runner herself. Who knew?   I made sure to add the matching medals.  

2009 Gasparilla Half Marathon

2006 Walt Disney World Half Marathon

2007 Bank of America Marathon (Tampa)

2008 Chicago Marathon

There were two shirts and medals from the Country Music 1/2 Marathon 2004, 2008 that were sent to our sister in Tennessee along with the Chicago Marathon 2008. Also to her the lone NYC Marathon Medal 2006 with no shirt, I think SHE wore that one out.  My husband wanted the Mardi Gras Marathon set from 2004.  There were three OUC 1/2 marathons 2005, 2006, 2007 sent to her neighbors kids who helped their parents watch over her house, mowed her grass and included her as part of their family.

Gasparilla Half Marathon 2008 went to another neighbor kid, who really isn't a kid anymore but SHE loved watching the three generations of women in this family and became part of their family too.  Winter Park 2008 10K was for the kids mother and neighbor extraordinaire - I can't even begin to list the things done to help.  There is never enough thanks.

These are the last, I am not sure I kept track of everything as I tried to move these on quickly.  There was a Deland Thanksgiving ten mile/5K for another colleague who we were most thankful for during crisis.  A Chicago Marathon 2004 shirt with long sleeves for someone SHE worked with to keep her warm as her friendship gave my sister genuine warmth.  The Suzuki Rock and Roll Marathon goes to our nephew, a young dad who is one that can use this as his Superman shirt as he assimilates his parenting skills.  Women Rule the World.  There were three of these medals but only one shirt and it was well worn.  I sent that one to our niece who is a new mom, not sure what it is good for really as it is the most worn of all the gifted shirts but maybe just put it in a drawer somewhere for strength and love, pull it out when you need to find your inner power. (The bottom right shirt was for neighbor extraordinare in above paragraph. 

This isn't a complete accounting of all her running by any means. There were missing shirts and missing medals. And I sent four Orangewood 5K shirts to her neighbors who inspired their church/school through her to start an annual run.  SHE was relentless with her passion, working to convince anyone she could to take up this same pursuit that gave her so much satisfaction, sense of achievement and self respect.  

Whenever SHE ran, SHE ran with a photo of our mother secured to her for inspiration and fortitude.  I will take the leftover remaining shirtless medals and turn them into Christmas ornaments to hang on my tree every year, a solemn but meaningful recollection.  

Keeping - Shell Seekers

I stitched every night for years, it used to drive my husband crazy.  Once the kids were in bed I would find relaxation and relief by sitting and stitching on linen.  You need to worry I told him when I am not stitching as then there is a problem. Therapy.

After the seaside sisters went up on her wall, I could only add more.  SHE never went over the top with the nautical theme like I did, SHE seemed to have more fun contributing to mine.  Shell Seekers though was perfect for her. There are only two sisters in this piece but then our third sister was a landlocked landlubber who stayed in Tennessee when we migrated to a tropical locale.  So it qualifies.......we shared an immense love of the seaside, the smell, the salt, the sand.  SHE preferred secluded beaches while I favored the busier ones so we took turns getting our way. 

So now the Shell Seekers hang in my powder room.  

Somehow though I always felt that missing sister.  So when I saw a third sister all alone, well I stitched it too as there were three of us, and it has always hung in my house.  Now it is not far from the seekers.  Memories of simpler days, simpler times.

Parting - Seaside Sisters

We used to send each other things depicting three sisters.  I found this piece in a gallery on Royal Street and instantly bought it for her.  The colors were so vivid you could almost smell the salt water.  SHE hung it in her bathroom and began her own nautical look.

So needless to say, when there was another one in the gallery window then she had a pair.  

It's funny how sometimes you just know who would share this kindred spirit of three sisters.  So parting with these pieces was a no brainer for me.  

D is one of the most remarkable women I have known and is one of three sisters.  Accomplished professionally D stood apart from the way I have seen most women lead, a style of her own.  There has been incredible tragedy in her life that sometimes just seems endless but there is no waffling or hesitation,  just pressing forward. D has great wisdom and is someone whose advice I know I can seek and respect.  What my sister would have liked most about D though, is her dedication, commitment to and love of her own mother, going the distance, just as SHE did.  The fisherwomen go to her, supplier of sustenance.

J just makes me smile, can be crazy goofy and great fun to be around. Another survivor, we met at a bumpy time in both our lives, a time that will stay significant for the two of us always.  J's bumps were  more severe than mine but she kept a sense of humor and helped me muddle through my own worries while surviving hers.  J has three daughters,  is a devout mother, one of the best, totally dedicated to her family. It is hard work that will pay off in the long run as the daughters have witnessed her strength through a very difficult time.  The bathers go to J, tender protector.

I was unable to decipher the signature of the artist.  So I hit Royal Street to try and find the gallery that had them.  After two Sunday's search I gave up.   Finally one gallery owner led me to believe the shop where I bought them has since closed, he was familiar with the style of work they dealt in.  So the name of the artist may be secret forever.  I have learned a lot from these two women, grateful for their influence.   I am pleased with this parting, the ladies are with kindred spirits.