Friday, June 25, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Going Home!
Last weekend I ran my first 5K in 30 years. I felt a little sad that my time was longer than I hoped, but I finished the race and ran the entire time! What was at first a disappointment, soon became an inspiration. I found myself running for 40 minutes straight, four times in the past week. Each time, after about 10-15 minutes, I experienced a feeling of being only in the moment...there was no past, no future, just me moving freely like a slow breeze. My feet felt soft, my legs were strong and my breath was in rhythm. This was a feeling I have longed to experience again for a very long time. I loved the " runner's high" I used to feel. I gave it up because of life's demands, but I was so happy to once again experience its joy! It was like going home! I do not want to ever lose this feeling again!
Unfortunately, coming back to Califon, town I love, the town I grew up in, has not completely been like "going home". My husband and I moved back home temporarily to help care for my mother after she suffered a stroke. Don't get me wrong, Califon will always be my "home" no matter what, but one of my mother's neighbors has really changed this town for me. He has made such shocking scenes over the past few years that my Aunt dubbed him "The dirty, ugly man". The Califon I grew up in had a mix of personalities who had their own opinions and life styles, but the one thing that was common was a sense of community. Someone might hurt your feelings or annoy you, but differences were always somehow worked out. I never remember anyone filing false claims against someone or bearing false witness, ever! Califon was a safe place. I had my parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles who lived in town, but any of my friend's parents would have looked out for me the same as any of my family members, and vice-versa.
I guess it is only natural that communities grow and change, and Califon still has some of the nicest people you would ever want to know. Many of them are people I have known my whole life, who continue to live in or around town. So Califon does have some of the "old neighborhood" feel to it. And I am comforted that I can still feel "at home" when I run; one "nasty neighbor" can never take that away from me!
By the way, if you want to meet some of the nicest people in the world go to the Facebook page "Califon Memories".
Unfortunately, coming back to Califon, town I love, the town I grew up in, has not completely been like "going home". My husband and I moved back home temporarily to help care for my mother after she suffered a stroke. Don't get me wrong, Califon will always be my "home" no matter what, but one of my mother's neighbors has really changed this town for me. He has made such shocking scenes over the past few years that my Aunt dubbed him "The dirty, ugly man". The Califon I grew up in had a mix of personalities who had their own opinions and life styles, but the one thing that was common was a sense of community. Someone might hurt your feelings or annoy you, but differences were always somehow worked out. I never remember anyone filing false claims against someone or bearing false witness, ever! Califon was a safe place. I had my parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles who lived in town, but any of my friend's parents would have looked out for me the same as any of my family members, and vice-versa.
I guess it is only natural that communities grow and change, and Califon still has some of the nicest people you would ever want to know. Many of them are people I have known my whole life, who continue to live in or around town. So Califon does have some of the "old neighborhood" feel to it. And I am comforted that I can still feel "at home" when I run; one "nasty neighbor" can never take that away from me!
By the way, if you want to meet some of the nicest people in the world go to the Facebook page "Califon Memories".
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