New Beginnings, Strange Timing

I spent most of my day outside, thanks to the first 60-degree weather day in over 6 months.  It’s been a day filled with euphoria, reminiscing, and odd juxtapositions.

The first thing I did was go for a run with my old buddy, JP.  We ran / waddled on a trail that we hadn’t run on in nearly 4 years.  We even saw a deer in her usual spot, about 1/2 mile before the bridge.

My wife turned 29 years old today.  I got her a bike…something that is becoming the ubiquitous birthday present for people in our house.  She took Anna and Isaac on a bike ride around the neighborhood…where we have lived for almost exactly one year.

I went outside to rake leaves this afternoon, along with half of the ‘hood.  It’s strange how an early snow and a frigid winter can delay your traditions for over half a year.  I noticed one of our neighbors doing some yard work with her adult son.  Her husband, who had suffered from alzheimers for several years, died over the winter.  I can imagine how she was reconciling the notion of raking leaves in the spring…without Gordy.

I’m on my way to the wedding of my pastor (divorced 20+ years) and a man she met shortly after arriving in Des Moines (widowed 8 years).  I don’t know many people who get married in April…and fewer who are pastors at the time…and even FEWER who met online a year ago.  It’s an odd thing to be preparing for – just one of many joyously unexpected (boarderline out-of-place) aspects of my day.