Happy Birthday, Mom!

As I rushed through the airport this afternoon, on my way to Dallas for a race, I thought I recognized familiar faces in quite a few individuals I passed. As I would get closer in passing, I decided it was most likely not someone I knew and noted that they did look strikingly similar to so and so. Then it hit me, "Oh no! I AM becoming my mother!" My mom is always thinking she knows by-standers from somewhere before, or noting how similar they look to someone we know. Like my mother, I began chatting like old friends with many of the people I had been in the vicinity of on the shuttle and in the airport. Like my mother, travelling makes me have moments of intense angst and worry, as exemplified in my curtness with her when I called to wish her "Happy Birthday" on my way to the airport and she tried to ask me questions, give advice and insight on my travels. Ok maybe it was part angst in travel, and part "Mom, I am 25 and have been flying/travelling on my own since I went away to high school at 15." Nonetheless,  she has every bit of my best interest in assisting her less than perfectly organized daughter. There have been plenty of times that my travel plans have had serious gaps due to my lack of insight. Organization and perfectionism is one of many areas I hope to be more like my mother with time.

My wonderful mom turns sixty years old today. Sixty isn't that old anymore, but with all she has gone through, this woman a WALKING miracle. My mother has been a special ed teacher, a real estate agent, and a swim coach among other things. I hope that, in my lifetime, I can touch half as many lives as she has.  Contrary to my tone of voice at times of my impatience, I am so glad God gave us these years to grow together! I am sure there will be many more to come. For, as one of my New Zealand friends said, "It takes five to ten years to be an overnight success in triathlon." I know you won't miss seeing me perform  at my best, so you will definitely be alive and well for at least another 10 years! To the greatest swim coach and strongest woman I know: Happy Birthday from Texas, I wish I could be sharing another Wyoming sunset with you :)