December 18 ~ reverb11~ Amistad (Friendship)

Describe your best friend(s) from elementary school, high school, college, and/or the present.


My entire childhood was spent as an Air Force brat.  I was born in Tachikawa, Japan and, from there, lived up and down the East Coast (from Florida to New York), Alaska and California.  My family moved every 3-4 years, which made it very difficult to make and keep friends.  Well, kids are resilient so I suppose I had a 'normal' amount of friends when I was younger...but since most of them were also Air Force brats it was very difficult to keep in touch with all of the changes of addresses.

Heidi's visit to Redlands, Ca ~1985

But I was fortunate enough to have made a friend in Heidi.  We met at the stables in Georgia  where we both had horses, at the ages of 11 (her) and 12 (me).  We were inseparable...until the day my family moved to California.  Heidi's family soon got orders to Colorado.  

My visit to the D.C. area ~ 2001

Miraculously we managed to keep in touch over the course of almost 30 years with a few visits sprinkled throughout that time.  Before the internet, email, Myspace, Facebook, Skype and cell phones we've maintained a lifelong friendship with snail mail and actual phone calls.  Through marriages, divorces, childbirth, remarriages, illnesses, multiple heartbreaks, job losses, new jobs, moves across country and every other major life challenge we've been there for each other...even if we were physically 3000 miles apart.  Somehow, we just pick up right where we left off.

It's so strange to me to be a part this kind of friendship with a person who I can depend on to always call or comfort me, someone to actually be happy for and even proud of me despite our physical separation...especially when more 'local' friends find it all but impossible to make time to build or maintain our friendships. 

Pier 39 San Francisco March 2009

Quirks and all, I love Heidi...and she accepts me with all of my quirks and flaws.

"The making of friends, who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man's success in life."- Edward Everett Hale

December 17 ~reverb11 ~ Bhakti (Devotion)

What did you devote yourself to in 2011? How will you devote your energy in the coming year?

A gift from the awesome people at Brooks.

This past year was completely devoted to running. It consumed me and, at some level, those closest to me. Weekend plans were rearranged or cancelled to allow for the hours devoted to my long runs.  Meals were well thought out and excluded alcohol (which, if you know me, is a big deal).  The laundry was inundated with sports bras, socks and running shorts and two pairs of running shoes ate up so many miles they were relieved of their duties and relegated to 'yard work' shoes.

Something old and something new...(both Brooks).

This next year will also be devoted to running (I just want one more marathon and Tough Mudder) but it has become important to me to also devote time to meditation and simplification. I have found that running often provides for a meditative effect (I have heard of walking meditation so I suppose this is possible) but I long for a deeper experience...the kind I had when I actually did wake up early to meditate for about 45 minutes. 

Gurumayi Chidvilasananda

As far as simplification...this is something I am continually working on and it will become a necessity to devote myself to it as we approach retirement and life on the road.




"True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself." ~Henry Miller

December 16 ~ reverb11~ Viaje (Trip)

Where did you travel this year? What was your best trip?

Signal Hill old lookout point at sunset, Cisco Grove.

State Parks...always a favorite destination.

This year involved some local travel to 'break in' the Mutiny (our RV) to places like Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Lake Almanor and Cisco Grove.  Samuel and Almanor offered great trails for running while Cisco Grove is a favorite spot for my boyfriend and I to take the quads out for a spin (this was our last visit since we are passing our quads on to his brother).

Morro Bay

Low Tide

Morro Bay

We also traveled to San Diego via the Mutiny for the Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon, stopping off in beautiful Morro Bay.  This was a fantastic trip with unexpected pleasures...walks on the beach to find sand dollars, a romantic bay side dinner and a visit with my soon to be step-daughter.

Downtown Cabo

Cabo San Lucas was out only our of country trip where we celebrated my soon to be step-son's 30th birthday with his beautiful wife. An all-inclusive trip that was relaxing and fun.

Armstrong Redwoods

For my birthday, in October, my mom came out for a visit and we took her camping in the Santa Cruz Mountains so she could finally see the majestic redwoods. Although it had been raining quite a bit, Mother Nature cooperated and allowed for a gorgeous hike through the Armstrong Redwoods and Natural Bridge State Parks. 

A game of horseshoes....

The Ring!

But I'd have to say that our best trip this year (so far) has been to Wisconsin for my boyfriend's brother's 60th birthday.  We were pleasantly surprised to find our hotel was situated right along Lake Michigan. The views were breathtaking and tempted me to head out for a run one morning. Let me tell you, it was hard to focus on my pace when I kept wanting to stop to take pictures of wildflowers.  The country was very country...hay rides, horses, BBQ, horseshoes...so much fun with family that was brilliantly topped off with a proposal!

Sierra at Tahoe Spring Skiing

Although we've made a few trips to Tahoe this year, the one coming up in 4 days will be the icing on the cake. Family and a few friends will be flying (or driving) in from around the country to spend Christmas with us.  We will also be exchanging wedding vows that day on top of a {hopefully} snow covered mountain.  Tahoe is replete with beauty offering gorgeous views of the lake or mountains almost any which way you turn.  

Blogging aboard the Mutiny...soon to be full-time.

We are travelers...it's in our blood...it's what we do. In less than a year we will be hitting the open road to travel the U.S. with no agenda, no end date and no pressures...to fulfill the dream of a lifetime.


“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” ~ Cesare Pavese

December 15 ~ reverb11 ~ Acharya (Scholar)

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What did you study this year? What did you learn? What did you teach?

How did you grow in 2011 — mentally, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually?

One of the biggest lessons I learned this year was to release myself from other people's expectations, or maybe it's more truthful to say what I think are other people's expectations. It was a difficult lesson which caused me much turmoil in learning. There were a few events going on in my life and several comments from friends made me feel guilty for how I was going about planning them. Instead, I took it upon myself to try to accommodate them...which, wouldn't you know, not only back-fired but made me feel resentful for having done something strictly for 'them'. 

I felt rejected and then betrayed when people I consider close were unable to make my events a priority. I whined to my fiance that I really didn't have any friends, no one liked me and that this was proof I was meant to be a loner or hermit. But after the sting of rejection subsided I reflected on what was really going on in my head, and my heart. What I found was that regardless if 'they' liked me or not, I was at fault for not only placing other people's expectations above my own, but for assuming that I knew what their expectations were in the first place.  

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I betrayed my own quest for simplicity. I focused on the image I felt I was portraying to others rather than the 'truth'...that I wanted to keep things small and intimate and that although they wanted to share in what was going on, they weren't forcing me to do anything just for them. In reflecting over the past several years of my life I came to understand that the people who are true friends will forgive you if (and when) you let them down, understand and accept your desires, wishes and dreams, and will still wish you happiness and love even if it doesn't involve them directly.

December 14 ~ reverb11 ~ Jnana (Self-knowledge)

Name something you did that was completely out of character. How did it feel?

Via: www.quotestoliveby.us

Although this isn't based on character, one thing I am proud of is driving our 32 foot RV (briefly) on the freeway and also backing it into our campsite. The thing is big...and wide...and scares me because it seems impossible to keep it between the lines. God-forbid a semi passes us!!

However, it is probably not running the Nike Women's Marathon that was most out of character for me. I usually don't back down from a commitment or challenge but I was ill-prepared for Nike and had a bad attitude since I am really opposed to Nike as a company.  Since I recently wrote my Anti-Race Recap I'll spare you the details again but you can read the whole story here. It suffices to say that it took everything in me to not run that race and to push myself, regardless of the risk of injury, as I always do.  Instead I learned how to go with the flow, enjoy the moments however they present themselves, don't take every thing so seriously and that there are more important things then a P.R. (personal record).

From a few years back, trying new things.

December 13 ~ reverb11~ Sabio (Wisdom)

What lesson or piece of wisdom did you learn from a child this year? Did it surprise you?

There are very few children in my life which makes today's reverb11 prompt difficult to write about. I've been thinking about it all day...going over the past year in my mind, trying to recall any contact I've had that touched my heart when a story about a young girl, who I will never be able to meet, popped into my head.

Kimberly Joy Costa* lost her battle with Leukemia at age 19. I was fortunate enough to hear her father speak at the Inspiration Dinner held the night before the Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon for Team in Training. He shared with us part of the speech Kimberly gave as valedictorian at her high school commencement ceremony held right before her death. She was wise beyond her years and there was not a dry eye in the room.

Kimberly Joy Costa
(July 17, 1981 – July 24, 2000)
“Ten Life Lessons”

Life Lesson number 10 is “Deal with life one day at a time.”  Sometimes when life gets crazy we feel like we’ll never sort everything out.  But if we just deal with everything one day and instance at a time, life just has a way of working through things.  It also makes life’s circumstances a little less overwhelming.

Life Lesson number 9 is more a word of advice.  “Turn every life experience into a learning experience.”  The best way I have found to cope with hard times more easily is to become knowledgeable about what is going on and try to find a meaning to everything that happens.  Trust me, there is always one there.

Life Lesson number 8 is “Always look for the positive.”  No matter how bad life can get, there is always a positive to be found.  If you focus on the positive aspects of life, the hard times are easier to get through.  The power of positive thinking is amazing, and it works.

Life Lesson number 7 is another piece of advice.  “Try to do at least one new thing everyday.”  Much to often, people get into a routine of doing the same thing everyday and their lives become boring.  The new thing doesn’t have to be big.  It can be something really small like taking a different route to work, or trying a new kind of food.  Make a wish list for yourself of new stuff you want to try.  Some things can be small and others, big.  Plan on completing one of those things each day and by the end of everyday your life will be that much more full.

Life Lesson number 6 is “Be true to yourself.”  No matter what happens in your life, if you are true to yourself and confident about who you are, you can overcome anything.  Always stick to who you are and don’t worry if people are going to accept you or not.  If you are confident with yourself, it will show and the people who really matter will accept you for who you are, not for why you are not.

Life Lesson number 5 is “Touch as many lives as you can.”  Every time you meet someone new, you leave a little bit of yourself with them.  They are affected by you.  The more people you meet, the more complete both their and your lives are because of how you have been affected by each other.  Think of the possibilities.

Life Lesson number 4 is “Enjoy the little things.”  Although the big accomplishments in life are important, sometimes it’s the little things in life that are more enjoyable.  The conversations with your best friend in the middle of the night, or a quiet moment somewhere peaceful where you were just able to think can add up to be much more important and memorable than any big thing.

Life Lesson number 3 is “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”  Many times in life, people begin getting concerned with petty things.  What people forget is that in the long run, it doesn’t matter what “he said” or what “she did.”  It’s not worth your time to get worked up about anything small or petty.

Life Lesson number 2 is “Hold on to your friends.”  No matter what happens in your life, good or bad, your friends will be there for you.  Whether it is a pat on the back or a shoulder to cry on that you need, your friends are there for you always.

Life Lesson number 1 is “Make everyday count.”  Lif is short and we never know how long we are going to have.  We must live life to the fullest EVERYDAY.  Everything we do should have a greater purpose.  We should never throw any opportunities away.

Our lives will continue to be impacted by our friendships, generosity, compassion and spirit.  As each of us works each day to be the person we want to be, remember my favorite quote from the Broadway play “Rent” – “No Day But Today.”

*Kim’s story can be found in the book “Inspiration to Perspiration”.

December 12 ~ reverb11 ~ Libro (Book)

What book did you read in 2011 that was most inspirational? Why?

Ahhh, books...one of my addictions I hope to never give up.  I love to read and often wish I had more time to do so.  I have shared with a few friends my overwhelming love for books when on a day, long ago, I stood in the middle of the Stacks on the second floor of the library at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks and began to cry.  It was at that moment, surrounded by thousands of books, I realized there would never be enough time to read them all.  

This year I've read over 30 titles...almost all fiction due to a pact I made with myself to 'have fun' in my reading. Years of reading non-fiction/self-help books left my mind and thoughts stifled and overwhelmed.  But an amazing amount of joy and truth can be found in fiction.  One book that stands out is The Silence of Trees by Valya Dudycz Lupescu.  It is such a work of art...so beautiful and rich, it touched my heart.

Denali in Autumn 

I also must mention a book I finished just today called My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson. A mix of fiction and non-fiction, this book brings me right back to Alaska with such vividness I can smell the woods and feel the cold.

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

— Groucho Marx