My Mom, My Superhero!

Let me tell you a little about my mom. My dad and mom got married pretty young and had 3 kids under 3 by the age of about 24. Apparently some of us were a handful to boot. With just Julian to take care of, I can not fathom how on earth she did it. A few years later, my parents had a forth, my brother Timmy. My dad was the breadwinner, the best of teachers, and coach extraordinaire of many teams. My mom raised the four of us full time for our first years, then worked full time, kept the house immaculate, did 99% of the cooking, paid all the bills, and did more laundry in one month than many do in a lifetime. She was an AWESOME mom on top of it all. In the years to come, we were so busy with life between school, dance, twirling, baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, outdoor pursuits, art, piano, etc., etc. etc. It makes my head spin just thinking about it. She held it all together. She was the glue so-to-speak. My mom worked as an overworked and underappreciated employee in exporting at a plastics company that should have paid their employees much more than they did. She wasn't really happy there but she stayed for us. My parents made concessions and sacrifices our whole lives so the four of us could go to college debt-free, which was invaluable really.

Aside from all that, my mom is the sweetest and most selfless person I know. Looking back, she may actually be superwoman. Now my parents are retired. My father is in the process of publishing his third poetry book and has finally become the writer he always knew he was and has always wanted to be. My mom spends A LOT of time at the beach, loves to cook....and oh yeah, at the age of 55, has just run her first marathon! We couldn't really be more proud of her. Retirement is so becoming.

Given her recent feat, little does she know that I am planning a short backpacking trip for her that will take us to the highest point in the lower 48 - to the top of majestic Mount Whitney along the John Muir Trail (JMT). The JMT was just coined "America's Most Beautiful Trail" by Backpacker Magazine. Brian and I have already done it twice and are planning a third assault.

My mom is my superhero. I know she can do it and I know she will love it because she is thirsty for more.....because she has the bug.....because some of us nuts think you really haven't lived until you have said, "My feet hurt too bad to stop".

Below: My dad (grey sweatshirt) supports my mom (pink tank) by joining her at mile 25 for about 1/2 mile.....in his flip flops. Man I love my family.

My mom, brother Tim, and his better half, Lisa, after the Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC, 10-28-2007. Here is the link to more pictures. Scroll down for the album with the marathon pics.