Nov 25,
And just like that our Bella turned 14 years old today. It was another chill day just hanging out with the family and watching the World Cup, but we did go out for dinner and sang Happy Birthday. It was a bit late to eat cake by the time we came back so we sang, took photos, and put it back in the fridge to eat it later.
Nov 24,
This morning I met and exceeded my stretch goal for the year of 450 miles. I also met my monthly goal of 55.5 miles. Now, on to the super stretch goal of 500 miles. That goal is still alive.
Nov 23,
Today we made the drive from Cincinnati to Baltimore for Thanksgiving. We got stuck in traffic a few times, so it ended up taking us about 90 minutes longer than it usually does. Still, we made it safely to Gabi's house. Sofia was not feeling well for a good chunk of the drive, but she hung in there. Lionel drove the entire time, and I took advantage of the drive time to read some stuff from work that has been accumulating and that I needed to read with peace of mind.
Nov 15,
Just in time for her Birthday, Bella got her braces removed today. We forgot to take the "before" picture, but here is the after.
Nov 13,
When I get asked what is my superpower, or my biggest strength, I don’t have to think long or hard about it. The answer is pretty automatic. My superpower, plain and simple, is Resiliency. After all, I have been close to dying more than once and I am still here. Being resilient has carried me through a lot so far - something no other strength or skill could claim to do on its own. I have other key skills that have been perfect companions to it such as discipline, empathy, etc. But none of them come close to the sheer importance of resiliency to keep moving forward in particularly tough days.
Resilient. Resilient. Resilient. You are resilient. Lately, I have had to remind myself a lot of it. And I have withdrawn a lot of resiliency from my personal reserves - for me and for others. I am trying to find ways to add back to those reserves, but boy it is a struggle. There is a Mexican saying that goes like this: “No es tanto lo duro sino lo tupido”. Meaning “It is not about how hard you get hit, but about how often”. The last 3 months have been hit after hit. And despite having a loving family, a support system, and many well wishers, it has felt incredibly lonely. I don’t think I have ever felt so alone.
I will continue to remind myself that I am resilient, build that up somehow, and offer that resiliency to the one who needs it the most right now. Because if I have felt lonely and powerless trying to help them, I can only imagine how lonely and powerless they have felt trying to help themselves.
Nov 13,
Today our sweet crazy Kika turned 2 year old. She has a good life with us. She gives us lots of love back.
Nov 12,
I worked. I voted. I worked out and walked when I could. We got the first snow of the season. I did my best to take care of those I love.
Nov 6,
Friday night dinner with my Sofia while Bella was with friends and Lionel was at poker night.
Saturday lunch with friends where I finally shared with them that we are moving to Boston next summer - and where we talked a bunch of other heavy topics.
Family dinner at Trio - with everyone generally in a good mood.
Walk with the girls because they have to walk - and because it helps me release some stress.
Tina the musical with one of my friends - my first time at the Aronoff center after the thick of the pandemic.
Beautiful sunset while driving back from visiting my dad.
Oct 31,
Halloween was a non-event for me and Lionel. It was kind of a blur. But Sofia did dress up as as a ginger bread man, as the seniors were allowed to dress up at school. We were not sure how the day was going to go for her, but thankfully it was Ok. Bella did go trick or treating with her friends but decided to go by their house - not ours. So we pretty much only saw her at the end. We did pass out candy - or maybe I should say that Lionel did. I don't even know what I was doing instead, but I do know that I was not in the mood to pass out candy this year.
