GreenEye Wire

Sterling Silver Swirl Ring that I purchased at the Flea Market.

The last couple of days, I’ve been more social than I’ve been in a long time. Friday I went out to the movies with a couple of my friends to see the horrible new chick flick “The Women.” I have to say I had high hopes for this movie since it was based upon the 1939 classic of the same name. I have two words: don’t bother.

Saturday, I went out with a new friend of mine from my hip hop class and we went to see another movie “The Family That Preys.” I can honestly say this movie is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. Lots of plot, and the ending absolutely turns you on your head. Later that night, I went to Karaoke with some other friends at a local dive. We talked, laughed and danced. A good time.

Today, I went with those same friends to the McKinney Flea Market and purchased the ring pictured to the left. Recently, swirls are something that have come to have a lot of meaning to me. The first swirl I saw was a petroglyph on the wall of Zion National Park. Somehow that design really spoke to me. It held so much meaning to me that I had a swirl tattooed on my right leg. People ask me what it means, and it is difficult for me to explain exactly. I think the closest thing that people can understand is that it means ‘everlasting life’ although I feel much more than that for this symbol. Long before I learned anything about Eastern Philosophy, I knew the soul didn’t die.

I was a young kid when I figured this out. I remember one day on the playground — I was around age 8 – I was very sad because I was wondering what I would do when our dog Bart died. It was kind of a heavy subject for a kid to handle, and Bart was in fine health and would go on to live another 5 years, but I was very sad and dreading his death on that particular day on the playground. And after about 15 minutes or so of brooding, a voice clear as day said “The Soul is too complex to die.” I immediately felt better, and went about playing on the playground.

But what is interesting is that even earlier than that, I had a sense that people go on to live multiple lives. The story is rather funny.

On my 6th birthday I went to school, and Miss Strecker — who still teaches kidnergarten in my hometown to this day — asked me the typical question asked of all children on their birthday, “How old are you today.”

Now, I know this may come as a shock to those who know me, but I was a serious little kid.

I looked her straight in the eye, and I said “I don’t know exactly how old I am, but I know that I am an old lady.”

Her reply was to laugh and say “No, Heather. You’re SIX!”

I looked at her, still serious as always and said, “No. I’m much older than you.”

I don’t recall how she answered me back, but I had a sense of being an ‘old soul’ of sorts. I didn’t have any sort of influence that could explain this other than just ‘knowing it’.

I sometimes wonder if Miss Strecker remembers that day, or if it was something she just wrote off as ‘out of the mouths of babes’ moment.

The McKinney flea market also had a row dedicated just to people with puppy mills to sell their little dogs. I felt horrible even looking. But it did make me know that I want to expand the family once again and perhaps get Sebastian and Ryan a little brother or sister.

But today, I just got a ring.

Kristine originally didn't want to have a birthday party. She was afraid I'd make her wear one of those pointy hats that would make her look silly. I would *never* do such a thing.

It was a good time.

My mother’s birthday is today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!

• My new student ID number at the local college: 1524225
• New mechanical pencil, index cards and a writing comp book: $14.79
• My age in years: 36
• Taking college classes and having a man ~15 years your junior hit on you: Priceless.

I even got a Student ID. Which means I get discounts at the Apple store. This could prove to be an expensive thing.

Yes. I’m going back to school, and I can’t WAIT! I’m taking a self-paced writing class where I will get one-on-one attention. I supposed to bring a writing sample to my first class next week, and I’m almost so excited I can’t figure out which piece to bring. Should I bring a new first draft? Or should I bring something I’ve already polished?

In addition to being excited about my new class, I’m a little pissed off at my friend Kristine. I’ve known her for 3 years now, and come to find out that last Wednesday was her birthday and she never said one word about it. In fact, she came over to my place for our Wednesday Project Runway night and actually cooked supper for me! (Granted, it was her night to cook, as we take turns, but not once did she mention “Hey, Heather, by the way, 20 some odd years ago, my mother was in the delivery room giving birth TO ME!”)

I simply do not know how I will get over this aggravation. Maybe I need to write an essay on ‘revenge.’ There’s a thought.

Heather. Still standing after the Rockwall Tri, 2008.

Of course, I always purchase the party pics from the photographers assigned to take pictures at the event. I haven’t found my bicycle shot, but My bicycle shot is here. And, I was thrilled that there were two photos of my run. And, they show an interesting story that happened at the end of the race.

In picture one, you’ll see me at the end of the race. Look how happy I am.

In the next picture, you’ll see me looking not so happy, and I’m sort of twisting my body. You’ll see the guy behind me is sort of looking to the camera’s right side.

Here’s what happened. As I was running into the home stretch, there were some people to my left (camera’s right) who said “Great job.” I replied with a smile and a “Thanks!” thinking they were talking to me. (That’s when picture one was taken.) In actuality, they were talking to the guy behind me. I know this because I heard them say “NOW GIT HER!”

My reply to this was “F$CK THAT!” and I dug in and sprinted to the end of the line. The picture number two was taken right when I dug in to take my first big step.

To the delight of the crowd, he and I both raced the last 30 yards to the end of the finish line.

And, by a hair, I came in before him. (If the distance had been even 5 more yards, he would have beat me.)

[added later] Oh WOW! Bill just pointed out to me that the man running behind me in the photo has the same bib number that I had last year. TRIPPY![/added later]

The cool thing about a triathlon, though, is that everyone is supportive of everyone else. At the end of the race, we shook hands and congratulated each other on a great race.

And I think that is why I like triathlons. It’s a great race if you finish.

There is a saying in the tri world that really explains the overall spirit of a triathlon:

DFL > DNF > DNS

‘Dead F*cking Last” is better than

“Did Not Finish” is better than

“Did Not Start”.

People cheer as loud for the last person to come over the line as they do for the first person. On the runs, everyone is saying “Good race” and encouraging those who appear to struggle by saying “You’re almost there, you CAN DO IT.”

It is the most helpful, most caring atmosphere of physical contest I’ve ever witnessed. And you don’t have to be a size 2 to do it. I’ve seen men and women who appear to struggle with their weight giving it their best. And nobody, I mean *nobody* makes fun of them for the sheer and simple reason that they gave it a shot.

I’ve also seen people of all ages compete. There was a 9 year old boy who finished in this race, and I was passed on the run by a 77 year old woman. (Let me tell you, she looked no more than 55 AT THE MOST.) Last year, I racked my bicycle across from an 86 year old man. When he crossed the line, they played the theme from “Rocky”. He said he decided to do triathlons in 1987 when his doctor told him to get more exercise. (He was 66 for his first tri.)

The overall attitude is “Hey, DFL is *still finishing*”. You can crawl over that line and people will cheer. And I love that.

In the Iron Girl Triathlon in Irving last year, I learned of a very cool tradition that has evolved over the last several years. The winner of the Iron Girl goes back to the end of the race when she’s done and runs the last half mile with the last person and encourages her along. Sometimes, she does this for more than one person if she sees someone really struggling. You just don’t see that in other sports.

I wish I knew about the spirit of triathlons years ago. I’ve avoided contests of physical ability simply because I always hated PE class where someone got picked last — usually me — and for that reason, picked on. I had no idea that there were contests of sport where someone didn’t get humiliated.

In fact, you don’t often see a contest in general that doesn’t result in humiliation for someone.

I think that is why I will continue in this sport for the rest of my life. Not for the exercise or the fact it will do me good, but simply to experience the spirit of the sport.

[added a little later] Here is a link to my 2007 race results.
2008 race results