January! Always the first month of the year. We can truly leave the old year behind and look forward to new beginnings and possibilities for the current one that has just begun. This year I was more than ever to say “Good Bye” to the old year. A year that ended with such an immense loss for us.
January was the first full month we lived without Nelson and although we have (more or LESS!!!) adjusted to not having him by our side at all times, it has not been easy. The raw pain we felt right after he died has eased but we miss him constantly. I don’t cry every day anymore but it still does not take much to get me tearing up, especially when I come across something I am not expecting (a video of him on our camera taken just days before he passed away), or when someone asks about him. The mother of one of my best friends said it best: “Time does not actually heal wounds, it just allows them to scab over. And every scab can be ripped off at a moment’s notice!” I know that for some it is hard to understand that I could grieve over a dog like I do, but to us Nelson was truly a family member and the pain of losing him is just as great as losing a human one.
Our friends and neighbors keep asking if we will get another dog. Eventually we will, but for now we need to let our hearts heal and fulfill some travel plans. The last two years of his life we did not want to leave Nelson for extended periods of time as he was getting older and frailer, even though we had wonderful friends who looked after him lovingly. We had really only gone away for long weekends at the most and would love to travel more frequently and extensively now that we don’t have the responsibility of a furry friend at home. We will know when the time is right and we are able to love another but for now we will take a break and enjoy our friends’ dogs and cat.
The winter so far has been nothing but brilliant weather wise and January brought us temperatures in the mid 80s. I am not complaining!
I took a trip up to Santa Barbara to see my friend Wendy graduate with her Ph.D. from the school I used to work at. I am so incredibly proud of her as she had to overcome many obstacles to reach this admirable achievement. It was nice to see former co workers, some of whom are wonderful friends.
Talking of wonderful friends, one of our “oldest” came to visit us for two weeks. I met Barry on Thanksgiving Day in 1987 and David has known him even longer. For a while we lived close to each other and saw each other regularly, but then he moved to Tuscany (I KNOW!!!). It was nice to catch up and spend time together and we made plans to visit him this summer (I KNOW!!!).
And to wrap up a month of friendships and (re)connections, I went to my friend Hayley’s baby shower this past weekend. I met Hayley through Team in Training in Santa Barbara and have loved her from the day I met her. I actually knew her husband, Nick, before I knew Hayley and I could not be more thrilled that they are expecting their first child, a son, who is due in April. I cannot wait to meet Baby Mullen and a trip to NYC, where they live now, is planned. It was a lovely even with fabulous (running) friends, friends I love dearly even if I do not see them that much any more.
And speaking of running: I felt great all month, even ran through a short cold without feeling crappy. I have to believe that Nellie’s gentle soul was shining down on me. Let’s hope February will continue on this track.
| Total Distance: | 230.52 miles |
| Total Time: | 51:39:22 min |
| Run Distance: | 186.4 miles |
| Run Time: | 23:44:22 min |
| Walk Distance: | 44.12 miles |
| Walk Time: | 14:55:00 min |
- Shortest run: 5 miles
- Longest run: 6.8 miles
- Average speed: 7:38 min/miles
- Strength & Endurance: 9 hours
- Spinning: 3 hours
