Great story telling as usual, Terrell. Thank you and Happy New Year. I was just discussing the topic of "tenacity" with a thought leadership group this morning, and boy did your grandmother demonstrate that. What a life! In terms of my running, I managed 100 miles in December thanks to your challenge, and am off to a good start in 2024. On pace for another 100 miles this month with a 10k this weekend in Central Park. Thanks for your constant support and looking forward to a great year ahead.
Thank you for your comment. I can’t believe what he has seen in his lifetime. From horse and buggy( yup he remembers that) to planning missions to mars. Sounds like you will have a lot of photos to go through too. I think that is lost now that everything is on the phone. Second best thing about grandpa’s is no cell service 🤣
Beautiful post. I’ll have to revisit that song. Like you I was never that into U2. More of a Nirvana girl back in the day. I’ve been spending time with my grandpa lately and I am so glad for the privilege. He is 96 and lives alone, sharp as a tack and amazing stories. I’m not a fan of this time of year but good thing is it’s almost another whole year before we gotta do it again 😝. Running helps.
That's so awesome, Blue! I wish I'd thought ahead and filmed some of my relatives telling their stories, as many as they could remember. It would be especially wonderful for my kids. And yes, running does help, doesn't it?!
I wish I had done it sooner when my grandma was still alive. Hindsight is 20/20. And yup pretty sure I would be huddled in a corner somewhere without running 😬.
Keep your grandpa company as long as you can! Old folks don't last forever! I have my brother who is 2 years older than I am (78). He has told me stories over and over. Some of it them I can remember myself, other bits he has written down. I cherish the stories that he has written. He has yet to send me family photos (60 lbs) and the family genealogy which my sister put together when the internet was just beginning. Amazing how times have changed. . . some glimpses are on the internet, but you never get the full flavor unless you lived in that time.
What a strong woman your grandmother was! I did get a chance to run a resolution run yesterday- 20 minutes 24 seconds out and repeat back. It had hills, it also had a lot of runners! Was great to see. Planning this month, this year to get back to the love of running. Have a question for group- is anyone doing the Run The Year 2024? I hound it about 8 years ago- have never ran the full amount, but I do count my daily miles as part of completion. If anyone else has signed up, let me know, I’d love to follow and cheer you on your journey! Happy New year!
Happy New Year and hope everyone had a peaceful Christmas. I’ve done no running since Christmas Day! Except today when I started my 8 week training for my first 10km of the year in March. My plan this year to increase my distance and 10km seems achievable for me. Maybe by the time I’m 60 I could do a half marathon! Which is only a couple of years away. Training for a run is different to my usual running schedule where I try to do 5km as fast as I can. Now it’s about building my stamina for the longer run and my target for 10km is sub 55mins. I’ll be very pleased with a time as close to that as possible. Looking at your half marathon training programme it seems achievable to me. Just need to have the confidence to started. But let’s work on my 10km first. Really enjoying your posts, inspiring for me.
I think about my paternal grandmother raising my father on her own in Atlanta. (My father was born in 1928, so you get an idea of when that would have been.) She was a practicing Catholic--or a "papist" in the more intentionally demeaning terminology of the era. Desperate for a job, the only person who would hire her was a Jewish lawyer. (Thank God for him.) "Other-ism" has many different layers and manifestations....but bless those strong women who refuse to give up.
Now that sounds like a story I'd love to hear more about too! And yes, those strong women probably got us through all those eras... there's a wonderful quote along these lines by Will Durant that I love:
"Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting and doing things historians usually record; while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happened on the banks. Historians are pessimists because they ignore the banks of the river."
What a quote that is.....and given what faces us in the year ahead (election-war, etc.) what an excellent tool for perspective. Thank you for sharing....
Such a story, but not uncommon. I could go on and on about my Great grandmother who left Utah and her husband who was a drunk and ran a distillery in his back yard--this was in the 20s during Prohibition--with 6 kids. . . She was a grade 1 teacher. . . landed in Bakersfield, Ca. . . Choctaw Indian. . .
Isn't it amazing how we all go on?
I've been reading Running with Raven. . .Can't put it down and savor every minute. He and I are so much alike. . .and I don't think we need to pay to run!
Starting to tune up for the Half Marathon, literally down the road at Amazon Park here in Eugene. The entire Marathon runs by the Willamette River down to Springfield, Or. Can I do it at 76--who knows? I'm sure going to try!
It is a beautiful day here after a week of fog. It has been so warm, the primroses are blooming.
Good to have you back! Best wishes for you and your running in the upcoming year! :)
It's good to be back! (I always love hearing your weather reports, Nilima. Have you ever seen the movie 'Doc Hollywood,' with Michael J. Fox? He plays a doctor who's on his way across the country to a job in L.A. with a plastic surgery clinic, but gets stuck in a small town in S.C. when he wrecks his car there. Near the end of the movie, when he's finally made it to L.A., we see him calling the local info line back in the S.C. town to hear what the weather is like back there 😃 )
Sounds like a movie I'd love to see! :) Weather is important!--My brothers and I always exchange what is happening whenever they call or text. . .Vegas is cold right now, but it is warm in Vermont though a storm and cold is moving in. Never would have known about the floods in Vermont if it weren't for my relates!
It is super foggy today and raining at the same time--38 degrees. Started my training for the half this April. . . slow but sure. 10 minutes of Chi loosen-ups, then 20 flexibility exercises, then rowing for 10 minutes, then a walk up the hill for a mile. (yes,the rowing machine came, but it is boring).
Love to see every one in the community slowly appearing on line. . . makes my day, too!!
Thanks, Sam! And you lived in Augusta too? No way! It's changed quite a bit since I was a kid -- there's a lot more to do downtown than there ever was back then. How long ago did you live there?
Quite some time ago in the late 1980s. My father was stationed at Fort Benning/Moore. I was barely a toddler and don’t remember much beyond a tornado and a lot of fire ants. 🙂 We left when my dad left the service and we moved to Charlotte.
Terrell, I'm moved by the story of your grandmother. Thank you. And what a wonderful gift to offer up your training plans. I wish I were still a runner, but no. I'm a walker now. Happy New Year to you!
I loved this story. Reminded me of my grandma who was a missionary in China before WW2 , was captured ( the whole family) by bandits and gave birth to my father on a forced march before they were released. Amazing strong women back then and I know amazing strong descendants of those women are all over the world modeling hope and resilience to the next generation
I actually just found it this past year and an old journal written by my grandma. Still can’t figure why no one in the family told that story, but at least she wrote it down for me to find. Seems like some novel material to me.
Terrell, your family tree is deeply rooted. An amazing story I will come back to often. Thank you for this New Year’s gift. Your Grandma reminds me of Thich Nhat Hahn’s quote: I paraphrase. “The miracle is not that we walk on water, but that we walk on this earth”. What an incredible women. Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful, beautiful quote and idea, Clark. And thank you for the compliments on my grandmother -- she was amazing. I hope you had a wonderful holiday and new year, my friend! Hope to see you in Eugene this April!
Wow! Your grandmother was a saint! What happened to her? What job/jobs did she take? How did she make it? How did her life turn out? I’m sure I’m not the only one that wants to hear more. This sounds like it could be a fabulous novel . . . 👍🏼
Great story telling as usual, Terrell. Thank you and Happy New Year. I was just discussing the topic of "tenacity" with a thought leadership group this morning, and boy did your grandmother demonstrate that. What a life! In terms of my running, I managed 100 miles in December thanks to your challenge, and am off to a good start in 2024. On pace for another 100 miles this month with a 10k this weekend in Central Park. Thanks for your constant support and looking forward to a great year ahead.
Thank you for your comment. I can’t believe what he has seen in his lifetime. From horse and buggy( yup he remembers that) to planning missions to mars. Sounds like you will have a lot of photos to go through too. I think that is lost now that everything is on the phone. Second best thing about grandpa’s is no cell service 🤣
Beautiful post. I’ll have to revisit that song. Like you I was never that into U2. More of a Nirvana girl back in the day. I’ve been spending time with my grandpa lately and I am so glad for the privilege. He is 96 and lives alone, sharp as a tack and amazing stories. I’m not a fan of this time of year but good thing is it’s almost another whole year before we gotta do it again 😝. Running helps.
That's so awesome, Blue! I wish I'd thought ahead and filmed some of my relatives telling their stories, as many as they could remember. It would be especially wonderful for my kids. And yes, running does help, doesn't it?!
I wish I had done it sooner when my grandma was still alive. Hindsight is 20/20. And yup pretty sure I would be huddled in a corner somewhere without running 😬.
Keep your grandpa company as long as you can! Old folks don't last forever! I have my brother who is 2 years older than I am (78). He has told me stories over and over. Some of it them I can remember myself, other bits he has written down. I cherish the stories that he has written. He has yet to send me family photos (60 lbs) and the family genealogy which my sister put together when the internet was just beginning. Amazing how times have changed. . . some glimpses are on the internet, but you never get the full flavor unless you lived in that time.
What a strong woman your grandmother was! I did get a chance to run a resolution run yesterday- 20 minutes 24 seconds out and repeat back. It had hills, it also had a lot of runners! Was great to see. Planning this month, this year to get back to the love of running. Have a question for group- is anyone doing the Run The Year 2024? I hound it about 8 years ago- have never ran the full amount, but I do count my daily miles as part of completion. If anyone else has signed up, let me know, I’d love to follow and cheer you on your journey! Happy New year!
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth, after the flood all the colors came out.
🕊️ 🙌
Happy New Year and hope everyone had a peaceful Christmas. I’ve done no running since Christmas Day! Except today when I started my 8 week training for my first 10km of the year in March. My plan this year to increase my distance and 10km seems achievable for me. Maybe by the time I’m 60 I could do a half marathon! Which is only a couple of years away. Training for a run is different to my usual running schedule where I try to do 5km as fast as I can. Now it’s about building my stamina for the longer run and my target for 10km is sub 55mins. I’ll be very pleased with a time as close to that as possible. Looking at your half marathon training programme it seems achievable to me. Just need to have the confidence to started. But let’s work on my 10km first. Really enjoying your posts, inspiring for me.
I think about my paternal grandmother raising my father on her own in Atlanta. (My father was born in 1928, so you get an idea of when that would have been.) She was a practicing Catholic--or a "papist" in the more intentionally demeaning terminology of the era. Desperate for a job, the only person who would hire her was a Jewish lawyer. (Thank God for him.) "Other-ism" has many different layers and manifestations....but bless those strong women who refuse to give up.
Now that sounds like a story I'd love to hear more about too! And yes, those strong women probably got us through all those eras... there's a wonderful quote along these lines by Will Durant that I love:
"Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting and doing things historians usually record; while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happened on the banks. Historians are pessimists because they ignore the banks of the river."
so true, so true!
What a quote that is.....and given what faces us in the year ahead (election-war, etc.) what an excellent tool for perspective. Thank you for sharing....
Such a great song and story! I resonate with so much of what you wrote. Thank you Terrell and Happy New Year!
Thank you, Julie! Right back at you!
Such a story, but not uncommon. I could go on and on about my Great grandmother who left Utah and her husband who was a drunk and ran a distillery in his back yard--this was in the 20s during Prohibition--with 6 kids. . . She was a grade 1 teacher. . . landed in Bakersfield, Ca. . . Choctaw Indian. . .
Isn't it amazing how we all go on?
I've been reading Running with Raven. . .Can't put it down and savor every minute. He and I are so much alike. . .and I don't think we need to pay to run!
Starting to tune up for the Half Marathon, literally down the road at Amazon Park here in Eugene. The entire Marathon runs by the Willamette River down to Springfield, Or. Can I do it at 76--who knows? I'm sure going to try!
It is a beautiful day here after a week of fog. It has been so warm, the primroses are blooming.
Good to have you back! Best wishes for you and your running in the upcoming year! :)
It's good to be back! (I always love hearing your weather reports, Nilima. Have you ever seen the movie 'Doc Hollywood,' with Michael J. Fox? He plays a doctor who's on his way across the country to a job in L.A. with a plastic surgery clinic, but gets stuck in a small town in S.C. when he wrecks his car there. Near the end of the movie, when he's finally made it to L.A., we see him calling the local info line back in the S.C. town to hear what the weather is like back there 😃 )
Sounds like a movie I'd love to see! :) Weather is important!--My brothers and I always exchange what is happening whenever they call or text. . .Vegas is cold right now, but it is warm in Vermont though a storm and cold is moving in. Never would have known about the floods in Vermont if it weren't for my relates!
It is super foggy today and raining at the same time--38 degrees. Started my training for the half this April. . . slow but sure. 10 minutes of Chi loosen-ups, then 20 flexibility exercises, then rowing for 10 minutes, then a walk up the hill for a mile. (yes,the rowing machine came, but it is boring).
Love to see every one in the community slowly appearing on line. . . makes my day, too!!
Lovely piece, Terrell! My family lived in Augusta for a few years when I was very young. I’d love to visit it again sometime.
Thanks, Sam! And you lived in Augusta too? No way! It's changed quite a bit since I was a kid -- there's a lot more to do downtown than there ever was back then. How long ago did you live there?
Quite some time ago in the late 1980s. My father was stationed at Fort Benning/Moore. I was barely a toddler and don’t remember much beyond a tornado and a lot of fire ants. 🙂 We left when my dad left the service and we moved to Charlotte.
Perfect message for the New Year. Thank you.
Totally agree...this was very moving. Happy New Year, Terrell & Co.!
Thanks, Ezequiel! Hope your new year is wonderful 🎉
Happy New Year, Terrell (and everyone else). I hope 2024 will be filled with peaceful runs for us all.
Right back at you, Greg! 🎉 🥳🍾
Terrell, I'm moved by the story of your grandmother. Thank you. And what a wonderful gift to offer up your training plans. I wish I were still a runner, but no. I'm a walker now. Happy New Year to you!
Thank you SO much, Janisse! That really means something to me -- and made my day!! Happy new year right back at you. 🎉
I loved this story. Reminded me of my grandma who was a missionary in China before WW2 , was captured ( the whole family) by bandits and gave birth to my father on a forced march before they were released. Amazing strong women back then and I know amazing strong descendants of those women are all over the world modeling hope and resilience to the next generation
WOW, Mombadear -- what an incredible, incredible story!!! Is the full story written down anywhere, like in a family book or album?
I actually just found it this past year and an old journal written by my grandma. Still can’t figure why no one in the family told that story, but at least she wrote it down for me to find. Seems like some novel material to me.
Terrell, your family tree is deeply rooted. An amazing story I will come back to often. Thank you for this New Year’s gift. Your Grandma reminds me of Thich Nhat Hahn’s quote: I paraphrase. “The miracle is not that we walk on water, but that we walk on this earth”. What an incredible women. Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful, beautiful quote and idea, Clark. And thank you for the compliments on my grandmother -- she was amazing. I hope you had a wonderful holiday and new year, my friend! Hope to see you in Eugene this April!
Wow! Your grandmother was a saint! What happened to her? What job/jobs did she take? How did she make it? How did her life turn out? I’m sure I’m not the only one that wants to hear more. This sounds like it could be a fabulous novel . . . 👍🏼
Thanks, Corrina! That's not a bad idea.... hmmm... 🤔
Just sayin’ . . . It would make a great story!!!