Cherish Grandparents

It was most certainly below freezing at the starting line and coming off of being sick, I knew I wouldn't be setting any personal records in last weekend's 4 mile race.

Seeing my grandparents after mile 1 was just the boost I needed... There they were - sole spectators, standing out in the park all bundled up, cheering loudly.

My grandmother is the woman who asked me in all seriousness the night before my second marathon, "So, do you think you'll win?"

I replied in all seriousness, "No Nonna!! Not this year, not next year, never. I can assure you that I will never win a marathon!" She could not accept this and in her thick italian accent said, "Don't ever say that. You can do anything you want to do. Anything!"

9 marathons later, I still have yet to win one, but I thank my amazing grandparents for being out there in the cold, forever cheering me on and helping me believe that I can do anything I want to do. Anything!

Help a Sister Out

Holiday season is here and with it comes so many wonderful things, but I must admit, the consumerism can be a bit depressing at times. Do we really need more stuff?

What if... instead of buying THINGS for our loved ones, we gave them the gift of "helping a sister out"?

Equality Now is an international human rights organization dedicated to action for the civil, political and social rights of girls and women. They have done AMAZING work on so many issues including human trafficking, female genital mutilation and domestic violence. Check out their website at:

equalitynow.org

If you can't donate financially, there are other ways to help like participating in their letter writing campaigns.

Women for Women International helps women from war-torn regions overcome poverty and tragedy. Two years ago I sponsored a "sister" in the Congo, and this past year a "sister" in Serbia. In addition to supporting financially, volunteer opportunities are also available:

womenforwomen.org

NOW (National Organization for Women) is here on the ground in the USA, and dedicated to eliminating sexism. Now THAT'S something I want for Christmas.

Happy holidays to all!

Get into Halloween

You got to love NYC on Halloween. By day it's fun watching a sea of small dragons, witches, ghosts and goblins.

By night the adults come out in full force. I spent the evening riding the subways and loitering in train stations, documenting the night. Fred & Wilma, Bernie Madoff, cats, devils, zombies, pirates, various super-heroes and even the swine flu were mixing and melding as the subway cars swayed to and fro.

Trick or treat?

These are a few of my favorite shots.

Practice a Random Act of Kindness

Midtown NYC pizza place late one September evening:

Random stranger enters the joint at the same time I do, but rushes in front of me.  I, being cranky from hunger and yet another 12 hour workday, roll my eyes as I watch him "cut me" and approach the counter.

Random stranger:  "I'd like a slice for me and a slice for her" (pointing at me)

Me:  "No, I'd like one of the cheeseless ones over there" (pointing to the cheeseless pie)

Slices go into the oven around the same time.  Random stranger and I have a short but nice conversation about the pizza in Boston and how it's pretty good too.  

Slices come out of the oven at the same time.  

Random stranger to cashier:  "I'm paying for hers too" (pointing to me and taking out his wallet)

Me:  "What?  Wait, no that's okay." (taking out my wallet)

Random stranger:  "No, really.  I insist."

Me:  "What?  Wow!  This has never happened to me!!  That is SOOOO kind of you.  Well at least let me get your picture for my blog."

Random stranger (while laughing and literally running down the block with pizza in hand):  "No way, no picture!!"

Visit a National Park

Spent the last few days of summer on vacation in Alaska - a dream of mine for many years... The national parks were calling me and on this trip I got to visit two of them:

- Kenai Fjords National Park where we kayaked

- Denali National Park where we hiked

Highlights included bears, moose, salmon, seals, eagles, sea otters, a wolverine, porcupine, bears eating salmon, seals eating salmon, glaciers, mountains and amazing fall colors (up north in Denali).

Always great to get back to nature, camp out in the wild and breath the fresh air.

YUM!!!!!

Do a Triathlon

Competed in my first triathlon, but am sure it won't be my last. I was elated to not just finish, but finish strong. Already looking forward to the next one.

Learn to Fly

Trapeze School was exactly what I imagined it to be... Exhilarating and terrifying. First few flies were on my own, which I could handle. I have enough confidence in myself to trust that my body would do what it needed to do - I would hang from the trapeze with the greatest of ease.

But the last 2 times were "catches". I would swing in sync with an instructor on another trapeze and trust that he would catch me as I flew thru the air. WHAT?? What if the timing isn't right? What if he doesn't catch me? What if I fall?

Miraculously, we were completely in sync, and as his hands grabbed hold of my arms I was able to let go... And trust completely.... Knowing that IF I needed it, there's always a safety net below and I'd climb back up that ladder and try again!

Go for a Bike Ride

Nothing better than getting out of the city for a 50 mile bike ride on a nice summer day.

Baby Catcher

Chance in a lifetime opportunity allowed me to be present for the birth of my nephew Dylan on March 6, 2009.  I was honored to give him his first skin-to-skin touch outside the womb. 

Dylan, you are a great inspiration with your eyes so full of wonder and your lungs filled with breath.  I know I will learn so much from you.

WELCOME TO THIS WORLD!!