A kind human moment at Seaquest in Layton, Utah
Some days feels like our noses are bouncing between above and under water. Some days seem more full of weariness than progress or purpose. Then you come across a story or witness a moment.
Today while at Seaquest in Layton Utah, a family with two girls similar in age to Juniper and Astrid just synced into playing. There was this play tortoise feature in front of the bird interaction exhibit. The mom, similar to Liz and I, took on to taking pictures and said to our girls jump right in. The mother quickly asked if I minded about pictures and I was like, sure go ahead. There are like-minded people out there. Bonus was the fact that she was wearing a Prince Purple Rain t-shirt and just had a good demeanor. The husband game me a look of “well that’s my wife, I know she’s cool’. Thank you anonymous humans!
And then there are stories from another era like the one I share below:
At 40, Franz Kafka (1883-1924), who never married and had no children, walked through the park in Berlin when he met a girl who was crying because she had lost her favourite doll. She and Kafka searched for the doll unsuccessfully.
Kafka told her to meet him there the next day and they would come back to look for her.
The next day, when they had not yet found the doll, Kafka gave the girl a letter “written” by the doll saying “please don’t cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures.”
Thus began a story which continued until the end of Kafka’s life.
During their meetings, Kafka read the letters of the doll carefully written with adventures and conversations that the girl found adorable.
Finally, Kafka brought back the doll (he bought one) that had returned to Berlin.
“It doesn’t look like my doll at all,” said the girl.
Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: “my travels have changed me.” the little girl hugged the new doll and brought her happy home.
A year later Kafka died.
Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it was written:
“Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way.”
Franz Kafka to ‘the little girl”
Chaos and the Family Circus
You know, I imagine some days if Liz and I knew what was coming, we would have run away! far away. Instead, foolishly enamored by one another, we took a big leap of chance. However I don’t much believe in luck, I was quite purposeful in my selection of Liz.
Liz
Liz is always asking me for memories. I don’t do well in the moment ins sharing with her. I think where I kind of really knew I was in trouble with her is when we were dating and at Utah State University. Although she tends to say I was rescuing her, she was busy reaching out to those needing rescue too. Not just me, but various friends from our residence halls. She was often found sitting with the solo folks. The ones that didn’t seem to fit, or seemed to self-isolate. They came from all walks of life, and many diverse backgrounds. But the commonality among them all was that Liz didn’t care and just spent time getting to know them. It was then, that I got to see some of her true colors. Stripped away were her anxieties and cares of what others may be thinking. She often assumed nothing more about these friends except that they just wanted a simple human that didn’t judge them. It was when I got to witness these moments that I kinda just knew she was more than worth it. For me, that’s where I knew I had to be more purposeful and mindful of her and her demeanor and worth and feelings as we got to know each other and eventually allowed ourselves to fall for one another. This July it will be 17 years of marriage and 19 years of mostly positive courtship. She’s helped me become better and stuck with me through me ever adapting and growing into who I have become. Sure there are a lot of skid marks and bumps too, but each experience has provided me lessons learned, some painful ad most positive.
However, had we known what we’d land into with our vaudeville circus of misfits. I don’t know how it could be any other way tho.
Needless to say, these kiddos are our world, get our attention, and keep us exhausted. Life has been full, and it is wonderful. That doesn’t mean its easy. It doesn’t mean we don’t love it. Sometimes the appreciation is less than ideal. Meaning that in some moments, growth and understanding are nowhere near understood. Covid for us meant isolation as a family in a way we have never had. I normally travel up to 80 percent of the time for work. To date, I have mot travelled since Friday the 13th of March 2020. Liz and I have never been together this long since before I moved to New Haven Connecticut. Add in 4 crazy and vibrant kiddos. So many wonderful and oft time gut wrenching lessons learned. We wouldn’t have it any other way, but had we known, I don’t know if we’d have jumped in or run!
Triathlon
With it being Spring Break and our main concentration on family and kiddos a few things got skipped, but I am really enjoying where I am at. My weight is starting to come to where I want it to be. I am getting more comfortable on my bikes. I have pushed the kids in the single and double bob. My runs are coming in great based on time and heart rate oriented training. My Real Perceived efforts are in a solid place. Now I am looking forward to next week and getting back to focusing on mixing in volume of my bike and run. I need to contact my Alma Mater and figure out how swimming for a semester at 55 bucks works and make that work.
Alright, back to things. I have along work week starting in the morning and kiddos to taxi around. Dennis is enjoying his working at Taco Bell, and the girls are enjoying school. Lucas sees my bike in my office and is always like, touch the things. The girls tend to always ask if they can sit on the seat and get pix. It’s hard being the Dad. I shouldn’t be so lucky. I am grateful, and more so to have my wife as a loving partner, most of the time. I am still a work in progress afterall. Cheers!
