3 More Miles

In the several years, I have begun to create an informal "bucket list' of sorts. Things that I never thought I would be able to do, or would want to do. And as 40 loomed nearer, these items were definitely far-fetched dreams for me. Then, I had a glimmer of hope, as my  insurance started paying for bariatric surgery. Was this something I would consider? Maybe. I started researching, and I started the process, with the idea that I could stop it at any time. Then, I had a surgery date...That was cancelled. Another date was set, and I reached the BMI my doctor wanted... I had lost 50+ pounds on my own. Then, another disappointment when I woke up in the recovery room in excruciating pain, but no sleeve. Depression set in. Then, another surgery date was set - Finally...It happened! That glimmer of hope grew brighter. 

Then, the list started...My clothes grew too big. I fit in sizes I haven't seen in 10+ years. Then, I weighed less than I did when I got pregnant with Sadie...Even smaller sizes. My students started to notice (in the best way possible - "Mrs. Reid, you look more skinnier than you used to!"). My stamina increased. I rocked Disney World. My shoes were too big, and I had to get new walking shoes! And my list just keeps growing...

Friday night, my friends Janet and Leigh Carol asked me to walk the Color Vibe 5k with them. I doubted myself. I have never walked that far at one time. Could I really do it? How embarrassing would it be to be the final person straggling in? Should I even try, because I am not in the shape I want to be in yet... I have wanted to complete a 5k since I started this journey, but was I really ready? Maybe the next time...These thoughts kept going on and on...But, I signed up. Janet told me she would drag me across the finish line if she had to. Both kids decided they wanted to go with me. So we registered.

Saturday, April 11, 2015. 8:15 am. Dan drops us off at Fairpark. I was getting excited. We finally started in the 3rd group and a shower of pink. I fell behind my group, and my kids went ahead of me. I just kept going. I was in the group stopped by the train, so I had a little rest. Then, we started again. At about mile 1.5, I caught up to JC. We encouraged each other, and headed on. Sadie joined us for a few minutes, but got caught up in the excitement and ran off to join in. I kept going. I wasn't the fastest, but I wasn't the slowest. No worries about being last, as I was safely ensconced in a crowd of people. We saw people cutting corners, taking short cuts. Not me. I was bound to do it. Then, there it was. The Finish Line. I could see the end in sight, and I crossed it with Jon Carter! Wow! In a few minutes, Sadie crossed over too. How great to share this accomplishment with these 2 special kids! We all completed our first 5k together, and we are planning the next step.

I would have never believed it. One more item marked off the Bucket List, and added to the "Look What I Can Do" list!

1400 miles...And Then Some

During Spring Break, the Reid family, plus Granny Linda went on a long, long journey. This was a much anticipated, occasionally dreaded, long planned journey. We went to Disney World, or as Dan likes to call it, "that people trap that the mouse invented down in Florida." This was a first trip for the kids and me, and I was so nervous. (I must stop here and give huge shout-outs to the awesome Paige Kelly and Kimberly Reeder for helping me plan this trip, and listening to me panic weekly for months!) So, after 2 bouts of snow and ice  in two weeks, we left Tupelo at 5:00 on Friday afternoon, heading south.

Approximately 700 miles, 1 hotel, several fast food places, multiple rest stops, and a few cross words, we made it to Disney's Port Orleans. And it was beautiful! However, when planning this trip, it never really dawned on me that we would be changing time zones. That being said, pulling up at 8:00 their time, and still needing dinner, was a little taxing. It was 9:00 pm for us, and we were exhausted. Or so I thought. Because, if you remember, this was the weekend of the time change. Hello, Daylight Savings Time! As this began to dawn on me, I realized that we needed to be at breakfast at 7:00 am. Eastern Time. On the first day of DST. Which was really 5:00 am for us. Wow! 

On Day 1, we headed to Hollywood Studios. We got there a little later than I had planned, but we made it, and we were all fed. We started with some a few fun rides and shows, then headed to Sadie's favorite dining experience, the 50's Prime Time Diner. It was great! We all loved the food and atmosphere. Then, across the park we go to ride a roller coaster. Well, by this time it is early afternoon, and a little warm. The kids were getting ill, and I had not felt 100% all day. So, after only about 5 minutes in line, they start whining and want to leave the line (in retrospect, I will say "Thankfully.") So, as we walk back to Dan and Granny, I start feeling very strange. So, there we are, in the back of Hollywood Studios, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, when I start vomiting. (I could hear little kids telling there moms to look, and the moms reprimanding them.) Can you say "Most Embarrassing Moment EVER?!?!?" I was mortified. But, my dear sweet Dan came to the rescue! He found a wheelchair, helped me clean up, and wheeled me to the entrance, where he got a taxi to take us all back to the hotel. (Fun times, right?) Boy, do I know how to do Disney! (FYI - I did tell you I was going to share it all on here- the good, the bad, and the ugly!)

Thankfully, whatever it was, went away quickly. I had Zofran in the room, which I took as soon as we got back, took a cold shower, and had a 3 hour nap. When I woke up, I was a new person! So, like the trooper I am, I gathered everyone BACK up, and off to Hollywood Studios we go again. It was a magical night! We didn't ride anything, just walked around and looked at it all, had dinner, then saw everyone's favorite, Fantasmic. I made it fine, and there were no more incidents that day!

That day is probably the most memorable to us all, because of what has become fondly known as "the incident." But that was just the beginning!

On Monday, we headed to Magic Kingdom after our breakfast reservation (at 5:00 am Tupelo time). It was wonderful. And guess what...This is the best part...JC wanted me to ride the Astro Orbiter with him, and I was able to. I actually fit comfortably into the car with him! Then, we moved on to other rides, and I fit in them as well! I was walking like a boss, leaving everyone else behind, and I fit into the rides. 

You see, this is what I think was causing a lot of anxiety about the trip. I couldn't imagine how I would feel if I couldn't ride a ride. Well, that wasn't the case! I rode, and rode, and rode. On this trip, I learned so much about myself, and my family! I learned that I really DO enjoy roller coasters at 40. Much more than I did when I was 18, actually. I learned that walking nearly 40 miles in a week will make you REALLY tired. I learned that Dan can't ride fun rides anymore, because he gets dizzy (BOO!!!). I learned that my sweet JC can be a leader, and that he has a little daredevil in him, as well. I learned that Sadie is not fond of roller coasters, or any ride that is fast or might have a drop, actually.  (It took 2 rides and a set of bruises that matched her grip on my arm to learn this). I learned that Granny has more stamina than I ever imagined. And I learned that Disney is the most magical place on Earth!

I could write pages and pages on that trip, recounting all of the joys and the difficulties. And I may revisit this in the future. But, tonight I wanted to focus on a few things:

1. The 5 of us made it 1400 miles in a car, and we all survived. Granted, there were some tense moments, we did it!

2. I was able to walk nearly 40 miles in the week we were gone.

3. I fit in all of the rides that I wanted! 

Yes, my journey continues, and while I am sure that there are many obstacles to come, right now, I am choosing to focus on my new list. I am making a list of things I never thought I would be able to do, that I am doing. Opportunities that I thought were long gone, that are back. Dreams that were laughable, that are now coming true...

Getting ready to ride Expedition Everest with my daredevil!

My view in the Tea Cup!