I can go 2 weeks without posting, then have a weekend like this where I want to post about EVERYTHING!
I’ll try to write in sequence, but no assurances. The girls rolled in Friday night: Glenda, squeeze Sam, and BF Rachel in the minivan from Knoxville, and not 5 minutes later Amy from Johnson City. It’s lame, I know, but they take my breath away every time I see them. They’re so happy and healthy and I just can’t wait for them to walk in the door! I’d fixed veggie lasagna and cheese bread and birthday cake and dessert – that’s what I do when the kids are coming home – gives me something to do with my time while I check the clock every 3 and a half minutes, and it’s such a mom/nurture thing. We talked nonstop til we collapsed around midnight.
Early Saturday Amy and I got up and headed to Nashville for the Ted talk at TPAC. O. M. G. When I win the lottery, I’m going to be an international Ted groupie. (www.Ted.com). It was a TedX event – all local presenters, from 10am to 6pm, 18 minutes each, and I could feel the smart wash over me with each subsequent speaker. I’ve kept the program so I can remember the details of each one. There were musicians, 2 rocket scientists, a docent from Fisk, an entreprenuer, and dancer, a neurosurgeon, an orchestra, and even Ashley Judd. Each one was fabulous. Amy and I both had our favorites; the day passed in a flash and I will unequivocally say that I’ve never had such a great $50 8-hour day. Ever.
This panel was created as each speaker presented - fascinating
Then home we dashed just in time for the girls’ 22nd birthday. They threw down with their Murfreesboro posse, with an old school hayride/treasure hunt/bonfire – it was crazy fun.
Google "Bang This" twins, Nashville, TN for the joke
Aden and buddy Alden did the honors of following the map and helping Big Jesse steer toward the treasure (one of which was suspended from the zipline over the pond).
Aden with the treasure map
There was hooping and music and food and most of all friends, and didn’t end until the wee hours, long after I had given up and fell asleep listening to them talk and laugh around the fire.
Aden singing Happy Birthday to Aunt Glenda and Aunt Amy...on the electric guitar
I know it’s cliche, but I can’t believe it’s been 22 years since the three of us partied like rock stars in a North Carolina hospital!
Sunday morning took us to Starbucks with our secular group where Sam Miller shared his experience with Quakerism. We had a good crowd – (forgot the camera) and stayed until it was lunchtime. We try to meet and chat about once a month – refreshing and challenging every time.
Then, as always, the time came on Sunday afternoon for them to head back to their campuses and lives.
beautiful children
It was a fabulous 40-something hours. I even suspended studying for the weekend (and had a 12-hour day today!) to be able to enjoy them with no distraction. In 3 weeks, they’ll officially be college seniors.
I love you girls – thanks for bringing the party 22 years ago!!
It’s so important to me, and I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to convey it.
For regular readers of my blog, and to my personal friends, you know my passions run high. I’m a carpe-diem-live-the-hell-out-of-your-life kind of a gal. You’ve read my blogs about my kids, about my racing, about my training/traveling/adventure experiences.
You know I see an opportunity and get all over it. You know I open up and embrace it and then try to express what it felt/looked/smelled/tasted like. It’s an ego stroke to believe that sometimes I accomplish that. When you share with me that you understood or sympathized or felt the same way, I know I’ve been able to piece together the right words to convey this.
I have absolutely no illusion about this one. I will not be able to tell you what this night was like. Too deep, too personal, too profound. But I’m going to do what passes for that on this blog.
I don’t crush on pop culture. I love my music, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn are adorable, I’d love to shake Obama’s hand, but I don’t fangirl it up. My heroes are not celebrities or rock stars or sports stars. My heroes are academics.
Last week I got word that one of my favorite authors was going to speak at the MTSU campus. Bart Ehrman has written several books, mostly related to Christian scripture and how it came to be what it is and the story behind it. When my children were teenagers, and were asking those very typical teenager questions about the faith in which they had been brought up, I was stumped. I told them I would research and Find Answers. I would resolve, for them and me, the problem of suffering, the contradictions in the bible, the obvious errors.
My dad had given me my first Ehrman book. Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdelene. I read it. I read another one. I read all of them. Every book he had written. And, oh, did I find answers. My kids and I discussed and argued and discussed again. They grew and we talked. They went away to college and we talked. They lived in New Zealand, Paris, California, Colorado, and we talked.
We read Ehrman, Dawkins, Harris, Dennet, and, of course, Hitch. Even now, as they have become young adults, we eagerly attack the topic when we get together. For little Southern Baptist Sunday School children, they are outrageously confident. Confident in their beliefs, themselves, and their place in the multiverse; with a confidence and strength that comes with knowledge. Their mom is too.
All of that to get here. Tonight, I met Bart Ehrman. I listened to his lecture in the amphitheatre at MTSU. He was wonderful – warm and funny and articulate and so smart it burned. THEN I got my books signed. At the table where he was signing, I stood, not speaking. He had to ask me my name; it was all I could do to spell it, and then I got out three more syllables – my dad’s name: J-A-Y. I was euphoric.
It Got Better.
A terribly gracious man, a professor in the philosophy department, offered his home for a reception following the lecture. I couldn’t believe it was being made public, but I was not going to turn this down. I GPSed my ass over to the house, and there he was. Chatting, like a human being, with other human beings. Somehow, and I don’t really remember how, I was sitting on the couch next to him talking about triathlons and running and agnoticism and life and OH MY GOD I was talking to Bart Ehrman. My internal emotion pendulum swung between pleasantly chatting with an interesting person, and a full-on, full-body freakout.
It is almost 2 am. I have not come down yet. I am so sleepy I can’t keep my eyes open, but I don’t want to let this night pass without writing this down. This is on the list. The 10 list. You know, the 10 most significant days in your life. I don’t want to overdramatize, but this was a big deal. Colossal. Stupendous. Unforgettable.
Give me another chance. Call and ask me about it. Let’s discuss it over coffee and I’ll do a better job of describing what this was like. This blog is my second-favorite medium of communicating, and I know I can do better.
Exhilaration is giving way to exhaustion. Maybe I’ll revisit and edit this rambly, crushy, stalker/creepy post. Or not.
Have your idols. Conventional wisdom says they’re only images, larger than life, will only disappoint, can’t live up to your expectations. Keep it. This time, this night, one of mine came through.
Thanksgiving was fabulous: All the guys were tied up – Jesse was on a trip, Ben was in Colorado working, Sam was in Atlanta working, so the girls and I had the traditional girl feast of wine, cheese, nuts, fruit! The girls had gone on a 24-hour trip with Jesse to NYC and saw a couple of hours of the Macy’s day parade, and the Addams’ Family play the night before.
My girls
There was also a little shopping…
Boot night at the Jordans (that's me with my rolled up pajama leg)caramel popcorn and beer - don't be hatinA holiday helper...and the world's best caramel popcorn
It’s been a cold holiday season, and we even had the Tennessee version of a blizzard last night.
Cold day for poor kitty - fountain frozen solid
On the school news: daughter Amy is transferring to ETSU in January, so she and I made a trip to Johnson City to find her an apartment (which we did with a HUGE win I will blog about later).
Son Sam, however, is transferring nowhere because HE GRADUATED FROM UT on Saturday!!
Swag for the parents - did you see the honor cord?
So with this expensive diploma, he will spend the winter….being the sleigh master at Beaver Creek resort taking guests to the restaurant on the slope. Living in a camper. In the Home Depot parking lot. Life is good.
My parents and brother got to make the trip to Knoxville
Daughter Glenda is in England, where she went the moment exams were over, where she will stay until the last possible second until classes begin. Sam and Amy flew to Colorado today; Sam to work for the season, Amy to ski for a few days.
Walking in our own winter wonderland on the property after the snow
Jesse is currently online next to me, looking for tickets to the Auburn game in January — if anyone has any leads…
What a party. Here it is Monday morning, and I’m still bathed in DHEA and HGH and oxytocin and all the other good hormones that your body sends out to bring the party.
To everyone who came to the party, called me, texted me, Facebooked me, snail-mailed me — thank you so much! Your expression of love and congratulations meant so much to me – more than even an amateur wordsmith like me can express!
It’s been all over Facebook, but I think I have a couple of readers who aren’t on FB, so the story begins Friday night, when my youngsters colluded to surprise me with their very presence! I had one of the four confirmed to be here – #2, Sam, is home from his year in New Zealand. Amy and Glenda said they were committed to a women’s backpacking trip in Knoxville, and Ben in Colorado was tied up with school and work. Whatever they did to make it happen, there they all were, sitting at a table in Marina’s on Friday night!
Deleriously happyloudest table in Marina's
I can’t remember when we were last all together at home – we were together at Ragbrai, but Ben never made it to TN, and before that we were in Colorado at Ben’s home (less Sam).
Saturday dawned party day – in went the BBQ roasts and on went the coffee. My parents and brother headed up from Georgia, and my aunties headed down from Gallatin as the kids took the decorating into their own hands. Soon we had the bus and jeep in the back yard, streamers on the porch, balloons, slack line drawn from the bus to the jeep, bonfire assembled, kegs icing, and signs put up out at the road.
instant party
stringing lights from house to bussupervisory crew
We finished getting ready about sunset and then our guests started arriving.
Gammy and Adeninside viewcousin Jen's handiwork
LED and fire hoop showAden and Aldenmy aunt Annie
I am now officially 50, and an Ironmanwoman. The gift of everyone’s presence will last a lifetime in my memory, and the tangible gifts fell into about 3 categories: wine, coffee, and silver jewelry. My friends and family know me well. I love them all and have them laid out on the table so I can see them as I pass by (the gifts, not the friends).
You can’t quite see it, but pinned to my top is a tiny little pair of Navy wings. I was born the day my dad graduated from Naval pilot training, and instead of my mother pinning his wings on him as planned, he came to the hospital and pinned that miniature set on my diaper. Dad and I celebrated that moment 50 years later by him passing on a little birthday green, if you know what I mean. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for choosing me above all the other millions of sperm and egg siblings you could have picked….
Brother Eric reciprocated the birthday theme from the 50 candy bars (there’s a story) I gave him last year for his 50th by giving me 50 cups of coffee from Starbucks. So if you see me spazzing around town – no, I’ll try not to drink them all at once.
I know I owe a 50 things update, which I’ll do soon – epic fail on trying to get them done in one year, but they roll right onto the permanent bucket list, so now it just becomes the Bucket List.
At the party we asked everyone to sign a poster and finish the sentence: I’ll do an Ironman ________. We got some great responses, including:
When Pigs Fly. –Jesse
Been There. Done That. –Eric
Never. I’m not that dumb. –Dad
In my next life. –Mom
If it got my British boyfriend a US work visa. –Glenda
If you couldn’t make the party, and want your comment added to the sign, chime in below and I’ll put it down.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am so grateful for my circle of friends and family; I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. As I reflect, as we all do on milestone days, I think I learn from everyone I call a friend, and if I haven’t let you know that, bad on me. In my opinion, that’s one of the highest praises I can give – that you’ve helped me grow and learn. You make my life fuller and richer and so much fun.
Back to training, then Thanksgiving, then finals for the kids, then on and on and on.
For an Iron triathlete, I’m a real slacker. In the three weeks since the race I have been sitting around on the couch eating bon-bons (whatever they are) and watching television. Ok, maybe not the last two things, but I have sooooo enjoyed my down time.
I truly did nothing in the way of working out for two weeks, and last week returned to working out half-time. This week marks the return to full training for the next big race, Taupo in March. I’ve also lost my camera so I’m depending on Jesse for his photos.
Last weekend we travelled to east Tennessee for a couple of reasons: to see the Green River Race and to see daughter Glenda compete in the finals for the UT’s Got Talent show.
The race was phenomenal. The drive and hike to the river were an adventure unto themselves, and then to get to see that river and those racers – one of which was our own Curtis England. He was a joy to watch, even if it was a whiteknuckler for us spectators. We got to see Sam run a portion of it too. We’ll try to make this an annual event!
my girls and meKrispy Kreme indulgence stopour viewing zone for the raceJesse and CurtisSam and LaAmes and Mom Sambo!the girls, post-race
On to the talent show. Glenda was up against a magician, two talented break dancers, and one of the best musicians I’ve ever heard. She performed with her LED hoop, followed by her fire hoop and did a great job. The judges thought so too – of the 26,000 students at the University of Tennessee, she’s the man! Or woman! Or hooper! Whatever, she won the competition! She doesn’t really like the focus on the competition part, but she’s terribly grateful for the prize: a professional video to be made of her performances to be used as an audition video to clubs across the country!
The winner in her modified Leeloo costumeoops - another trip to the KK
This weekend we were able to go back to Knoxville for another performance at the homecoming rally, Smoky’s Howl (kind of a pre-homecoming pep rally). She did another great job. On Saturday, we (Jesse, me, Amy, Glenda, Sam, Laura) went to Max Patch with the Mosses and some of the staff of UTOP for an afternoon of remembrance for Robert. He and Amy had gone there a few times and it is truly a beautiful place. We shared some wonderful memories of our precious boy and enjoyed the view and the company.
atop Max PatchpicnicAmy and the Mosses
Later that night we drove into Johnson City, TN, for a campus visit at ETSU. It was a night visit, so we just drove through in the car, but we loved what we saw. They have Amy’s degree, so if all goes well with her acceptance/transfer, she’ll be seeing those mountains every day beginning in January! The buccaneer mascot is a little scary/creepy, but we like things edgy.
scary? or scariest?
Back home again and now getting ready for the big 5-0 birthday/post-iron party. In the mail when I got home was my very weird award for winning my division – a ceramic coffee mug that has race logo and details and division winner on it….mkay. Where’s my cheap-ass plastic trophy?!
We are having such a good time! We are in Toshimingo, Mississippi, at the Toshimingo State Park. Today was a 75-mile day all up in this state.
Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to the UT crew – we were glad to have them for the 4 days, and we can’t fault them for needing to attend class tomorrow! That leaves 6 of us – Big Jesse and me, Sam, Curtis, Casey, and Charles. We have only 2 days of riding left, and then it’s back to reality.
Today was a smidge warmer than we would have chosen, but it’s as clear and dry as can be. The terrain has gotten a bit more hilly, but even those are long, gentle rollers. We should see a bit more elevation tomorrow, and we end up at Meriwether Lewis State Park for the overnight.
Amy Jordan has absconded with my camera, so no current pics – I’ll try to add a couple from the first four days just for interest:
There is a concept in Southern Baptist tradition called Revival. It’s based on the premise that even though you are completely convicted about your belief system, occasionally you need to be reminded of the grand nature of it, and the best way to do that is through an emotional, spiritual experience called Revival. It literally means reviving those feelings of awe and joy you associate with your beliefs, but because of the nature of life, you may at times not be able to fully access.
I’m going to apply the concept of Revival to blogging. I love this blog, this beautiful, training/eating/traveling/child-showcasing/book-reviewing/opinionated blog. I love the process of it – the seeding of an idea in my mind, the marinating part, the fleshing out/developing part, and finally, the click of my fingers on the keys writing part. But I find that days and days pass without my posting an entry. I have begun to identify part of the problem. I’m a sucker for pictures. Sometimes I’ll think of a post to make, then I’ll try to create the pictures to enhance it. I still want to do that, but I’m committing to creating entries that DON’T have the visuals. Gah – guess I’ll have to make up for it with good writing.
Having said that — here are some pictures! That’s another part of the problem – I live a fairly busy life, always have my cheapass camera with me, so even though they are of questionable quality, I usually have pictures of my significant events, slowing down the blog process even more! Since I don’t want to take fewer pictures, I’ll simply make the effort to streamline the retelling a bit. (HAH!)
Obligatory bike ride picture - the HOT 100 in Murfreesboro
Mass start at the HOT 100, an annual bike ride in Mboro, beginning at Lascassas Elementary school and offering 14, 33, 66, and 100 mile supported routes. Jesse did 66, I did 33, and there is a reason it is called the HOT 100 – so hot and muggy I was drenched by mile 12. Weird having Demo’s catering serve out of the cafeteria where my children went to school through 8th grade – used to seeing chicken nuggets, baked beans, french fries, and fruit cups in there.
Knoxville Mellow Mushroom with the wonder twins
Next is a trip to Knoxville to bring the girls the crap they forgot when they took their first load of crap to Knoxville (no offense, girls, my stuff is my crap too). We got Glenda a mattress and Amy a kitchen table to complete their adorable apartments.
Amy not cooperating with the photographer on her bed
Don’t know how I missed not getting a pic of Glenda in hers, but that will come. A couple of nights before I got there, Amy had been splashing about in a series of puddles, and found a storm grate. A raised storm grate. With her 4th toe.
Notice the appetizing purple bruise that extended to the bottom of her foot.
Next is one of my favorite ways to take a picture of my girls. I have them from the back in London, Paris, on bikes, on the farm, as toddlers, grade-schoolers, high-schoolers, and now as college students.
Makes me fall in love with them all over again
Then there was the Midnight/Moonlight ride around Cades Cove. Cades Cove is a little plateau in the Smoky Mountains that during the day, and especially in the fall, is a haven for sight-seeing tourists. It’s about a 12-mile loop that is full of cars looking for deer and bear in a breathtaking setting. The road is closed at sunset, and on a clear moonlit night, it lends itself to one of the most spectacular rides you can ever do on a bicycle. The pavement is good, it is gently rolling mini-hills and it passes several pioneer-era buildings: churches, a mill, some houses. Put it on the list as a must-do.
suiting upAmyGlenda on an ancient, out-of-tune piano at one of the churchesListening to the serenaderoosting bat in one of the housessightseeing score
There were 9 of us who went, and there isn’t a picture to reflect the Echo Area where we stopped and shouted and whistled and clapped. It was over almost as soon as we started, and the idea that every month it’s just there, waiting to be ridden and enjoyed…well, keep tabs on the blog and I’ll try to give a heads up next time. This is one of those rides where any bike will do – helmet required – and you can leave Mboro late afternoon and be driving back in around dawn, hoping your coworkers will ask you why you look so sleepy!
Eric's pasture
Then it’s off to Atlanta to take Sam to work for Uncle Eric for a few weeks. (Uncle Eric graciously funded Sam’s trip to Africa earlier this summer, so that’s part of the arrangement). Brother Eric lives south of Atlanta and raises chicken, turkeys, and longhorn cattle.
eggs and alfalfa blocks - we ate the eggs for breakfast, fed the cattle the blocksat the first roundupAmerican Gothic?New heifers being delivered - they are magnificentPart of the herd
Since I have come back home, Sam and Eric have gotten his first longhorn bull. He’s about half-grown and is black and white – I can’t wait to see him. Sweet Grandma has named all the heifers and calves flower names (Pansy, Lily, Blossom, Little Blossom, etc) and so the new bull is, of course, Ferdinand. He’s got a white V on his black face, so I’m trying to come up with a name that connects to that. I might thesaurus that (rights of a blogger: creating a verb out of a noun, and vice-versa).
Training continues (default setting – I’ll remark when I’m NOT training). Family update: Sam’s a college graduate, planning on doing the ceremony thing in December, girls are back in Knoxville in school, Ben is taking classes in Beaver Creek. We’re planning a bike ride on the Natchez Trace over the kids’ fall break in October – 6 day 400-mile ride with the bus. Room for more if you are interested…
Thanks for reading — remember my promise about posting more often – hold me to it!
I haven’t blogged since Ragbrai, and while there hasn’t been high drama going on, we have had lots of fun with the girls home!
This first picture is of the girls and me at Arrington Winery. We may not be Napa or Sonoma, but Tennessee has developed some pretty nice vineyards. Glenda and I stopped at a couple on a trip from Atlanta; one in Monteagle and one in Manchester, right at the Bonnaroo entrance, and we were pleasantly surprised at both the grounds and the wine. Arrington had a great Blush, and since we were there on a weekday, we were able to taste everything they had!
Not sure what to caption this
Amy made a quick road trip last week, going to Atlanta, then to Athens, then to Asheville, through Knoxville, and back home. She joined up with her Humboldt posse for all that, and they all ended up here (pics of that bunch later in this post). This particular trip she rose to the occasion with this onesie, gold belt, gold boots – I think she was representing Tennessee. Her friends are from Germany, France, Colorado, and Georgia, and she may have been channeling Dolly Parton.
just another picture of perfectionFrancois and Matthias, Amy's Humboldt gang
Next was the bus outing to the square in Murfreesboro. We bought beer and pizza, then parked right next to the courthouse for chat.
Lila and Melanie, Colorado and Georgia girls, via HumboldtAmy, Glenda, and AdenDann
Gibson found us and joined us for a bit. It was hot and muggy, but it was a pleasant way to spend the evening, and to introduce the Europeans to small town southern life.
Amy and Aden making chocolate biscuits
After breakfast, we all piled back into the bus for a trip to Lynchburg, TN, to see the Jack Daniels distillery.
Lila, Jack, Matthias, and Francoisnuff said
After the tour, and BBQ in Lynchburg (only so-so), back home went the bus, showers all around, and then the group piled into the van (me as DD) to visit the hot metropolis of Nashville.
the bar at Coyote's
Glenda made some contacts at a couple of the bars, and may have picked up some weekend work with her hoop, and all in all it was a fun night in the honky-tonks. The 4 travelers had to hit the road the next morning, leaving Amy and Glenda to pack for their move to UT in Knoxville.
Sam, as I write this, is on a plane from Johannesburg, SA back home. We’ll pick him up at the airport in the morning as we head to campus. I’ve taken a couple weeks off from training (since Ragbrai), but will pick it back up tomorrow with a scorching run, even at 8am.
This morning the girls and I met with a group of friends at Starbucks to discuss their experiences in Paris and California, and the differences in those societies and our own here in middle Tennessee. We had some delightful conversation and intriguing questions, and we plan to meet soon to do it again.
I know, I know, I haven’t blogged about my 50 things – I’ve got some things cooking, and I’ll catch up with that soon (how often have I written that?).
Happy. Healthy. Heathen. 