Finding Darcy

Yes, we're co-authoring. This is a joint venture, after all. I've been looking for Darcy for years. Refusing to pay Classmates.com any hard-earned money for information, I google her name about a million times in vein over the last 10 years because I didn't know her married name! Why search? Simple. There's a bond there that will never go away. Darcy is the kind of person who's a friend no matter what. She may have dropped her pom-poms but she's always been everyone's biggest cheerleader. We spent entire summers by her pool, went camping with her family, fished (I'm not sure what I would've done had I actually caught something), were almost abducted once (do you remember that, Darcy?), flirted with boys, ran (slowly), babysat, drove around in her cute little red hatchback (Darcy was the first person to teach me to drive standard)- there's so much more. I felt so at home at Darcy's that I almost never went home.

And now, come to find out, here we are married and five children between us- she in Massachusetts and I in Texas. So much of each other's lives between then and now. And here we are still so much alike.

Wanna talk about serendipity? I'm almost 4 years out from the birth of my second child wondering how to gain closure on the pregnancy/birth era of my life. My husband and I realistically decide that, despite our original plan of 3, 2 children is much more optimal for our personalities, emotional well-being, and the lifestyle we have chosen. I didn't know then. I thought I would be pregnant and experience the exhausting miracle of the birth of one more child. I mourn the loss of the challenge but not the addition of another child. A marathon has crossed my mind several times in my life. Each time I thought- 'yeah right- I'll never be fast enough for that.'

BIL calls me. 'I know that you may not have been serious but I'd like to talk to you about whether it's actually an option for you and the kids to come to CA and take care of Emma for a while as we work out our daycare.' Huh. Well, of course! Emma is my husband's brother's newborn daughter. We leapt at the chance to spend 5 weeks with her in CA. Off we go. They gave me the chance to love all over my niece and feel what it's like to 'mama' 3. BIL is in social media and convinces me to start on Facebook where I immediately look up Darcy- and find her!!!

So what's Darcy been doing? She ran 2 marathons! What? If she can do it, maybe I can too. But not alone. I start googling. Austin, the pie-in-the-sky Texas city where hubby and I would love to have a w/e place has a marathon that boasts rave reviews. I throw it out to Darcy just to see if she'll bite and mention it to hubby laying in bed that night. He says, 'I'll do whatever you need me to do to support you- except run.' Really? He never once doubted that I could do it. What a guy.

Who needs fast? I want this experience, this challenge, this bond. I just want to get to the finish line. For me, the challenge started 4 weeks ago when I bought shoes. I feel better running now than I ever have in my life. It's not fast but at least it feels pretty good. It's very liberating to be alone with my own thoughts. Maybe it took this long to gain the appreciation for that.