I can remember hearing that song on the am radio - years ago while flying freight - after popping out the other side of a rain shower into the sunny, clear day. I was struck by not only the timing of the song but its message of hope and better things to come. Usually, I heard songs like Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire." I couldn't help but laugh at my morbid interpretation of the lyrics as I was shooting an approach into Kansas City, hearing Cash sing, "I fell in to a burnin' ring of fire... I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher...."
I heard "Here Comes the Sun" again just before Don and I left the house bound for Little Rock during my vacation. That extended weekend turned into a trifecta of Spectacular. First, we went to the Jimmy Buffett concert on March 1st - which always officially ends Winter and begins Spring. The weather in Arkansas was unseasonably warm - in the 80's, and the sun felt so good on my skin. Even on the drive along the winding highway, I could feel my winter funk melting away. There was just something so great about the warmth and listening to Radio Margaritaville. As a born and raised Parrotthead, I know every song Buffett ever wrote or performed. The acoustics at the concert stunk, or maybe it was our seats, but it was still great to watch Jimmy perform. There's a guy who truly loves what he does! He has so much fun at his job, you can't help but smile when you see or hear him play.
A few days to recover led me to the real reason for heading to Little Rock - the half marathon! I'll tell ya.... that half marathon training is what kept me from falling completely off the diet/exercise wagon. I tend to get the winter blues. Although this winter wasn't nearly as bad as last, the blues still came. First comes the desire to drink a lot more. Then, the comfort eating starts. Finally, the lack of motivation to do anything physical sets in. And STAYS. For about 3 months. If not for my obligation to the race, I probably would have become a complete slob, and undone everything I worked so hard for physically all summer.Race day came March 4th, and I was nervous and excited! The Little Rock marathon/half marathon/10K was sold out at 12,000 runners!! I was in the back of the pack. I think the Kenyans in the front actually finished the marathon before I even made it to the starting line. I waved to my little group of cheerleaders (Dad, his friend Kelli, her daughter Sarah, and My Sweet Cheeks) just before I stepped across the mat that activates the timing device attached to my shoe. Off we go!! The first mile went by in a flash, and I thought, "Hell, this is going to be EASY!"
About mile 3, I came across a band playing "Jambalaya." I give them the rocker sign and keep on running. I passed the 5 hour marathon pace group. The streets are lined with people cheering, banging cowbells, holding signs for their favorite runner (usually someone's mom or dad). Somewhere along the way, I pass the 4:50 marathon pace group. Boy, I'm really hauling ass!! Open the box of raisins I had brought along and eat a handful of them to keep up my energy. Give a raisin-y smile to a photographer who probably thought - "That chick is chewing tobacco during her race?? Well, this is Arkansas!!"I made sure to high-five every child who held his or her hand out to the runners. I stopped at every water stop and one porta-potty. I gave a fist-pump or a rocker symbol to every live band along the way. I thanked every volunteer. Every time I saw a photographer, I ran extra hard and put on a mean face so they could get a good picture, hoping it didn't make me look constipated. I couldn't believe how many people lined the streets of the course to cheer on the runners. I marveled at their ability to maintain their enthusiasm for hours. I thought, "well crap, they're working harder than I am!"
Mom later asked me if there was a time I wanted to quit. That time came around mile 7. I looked at my GPS watch and thought to myself, "Mile 7?!? That's ALL?!!? F@#K!!!! This was a mistake. I'm never going to make it. Oh my God, there's another hill!" Just then, I came across another band, playing a song I've never heard. I do, however, remember the lyrics they were singing, "She puts the 'HO' in 'Jose Cuervo..." That little laugh and another handful of raisins gave me the strength to keep going. About mile 10, my feet no longer felt like feet, but instead bloody, beaten, toe-less stumps being ground against the pavement. I thought, "just 3 more miles.... come on, 3 miles is just a warmup run! Come on... step step step.... breathe breathe breathe. You can do it!!!"
A lone trumpeter played a jazzy version of "When the Saints Go Marching In." I was sure it was Gabriel playing to alert St. Peter of my arrival at the Pearly Gates. I was so thankful instead to see the sign directing the marathon folks one way, and the half-marathon folks another. I laughed and waved goodbye to the 26.2 milers, "See ya!!! If you need me, I'll be downing ice cream and beer. Have fun with that extra 13 miles."
Mile 12.8 - I saw the finish line. I heard the crowd. I saw the giant clock and heard spectators shout, "keep going! You're almost there!!" For a second, my eyes went blurry, my throat closed, my breath caught, and I got incredibly emotional. I'm really going to do this!!!! I then thought, "I'll get emotional later. Now I need to breathe!" I picked up the pace and could no longer feel my legs or bloody toe-less stumps posing as feet." I crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 20 minutes - 10 minutes faster than my goal!
It was an experience like no other. The volunteers wrapped me in mylar and handed me my finisher's medal as they directed me to the bananas and crackers. I walked around in a daze trying to comprehend what I had just done. As I did my stretches I thought, "That wasn't so hard. I can even do better! Oh, how I want to do another one!!"So.... Buffett and half-marathon. On to the third "spec" in our trifecta of spectacular.
The night before the race, my dad and his friend Kelli took Don and me out to an Italian restaurant to "Carb load." That's where runners eat a bunch of carbs to give their bodies the energy to run a good race. I don't know much about the science, but I'm always looking for an excuse to eat pasta. I turn off my phone for 2 hours. 2 hours! That's it. When I turned it back on again, my world changed! I see texts from several people - "congrats, Captain Willes!!"
WHAT?!?!? It's not even April Fool's!
Yep, the bid award was finally published. Yours truly was awarded the very last captain slot. I'm the plug. I'm the runt. I'm the absolutely most junior person to get the award. Call me whatever you want, but BY GOD, CALL ME "CAPTAIN!!!"
Today, I spoke with Crew Planning, and my class date is April 2nd. That's not set in stone; they were waiting to hear from a few guys who may or may not take the April 16th class. Given my history with this company, I won't celebrate until I am actually on the line, captaining an aircraft. But it gives me hope. I am humbled and touched by how many people have congratulated me and wished me good luck. I hope I don't let you down. There is a lot to study. No doubt, this will be difficult, but I know I can do it.
My winter blues are gone. I'm back on the diet/exercise wagon, giving running a break (hoping my black toenails on the right foot will heal and that weird shooting-pain sensation will stop in the toes of my left foot). I'm deep into my first week of P90X. We have sprung forward and can look forward to flowers, sunshine, and baseball. I feel like there may be an end to what seemed like nothing but perpetual spinning my wheels regarding my career. At least I have a shot at it, anyway.
"Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces. Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here."
I know this was a long blog entry. Thank you to the ones who made it this far. You're my cheerleaders - always there when it feels like I've come so far, I'm running out of gas, and I still have so far to run. Without my friends and family, there is no way I could make it through the marathon of life.
I hope the sun shines for all of you this Springtime.
