First and foremost, if you're a consistent follower of this blog, you've probably heard me talk about my girlfriend Hillary (you might have even checked out her blog, which I link to fairly often). She's also a runner, though she's only been at it for around a year. Despite this, she's LEAPS AND BOUNDS above where I was after my first year of running, and at this pace she'll start lapping me in a year or two.
Yes, I said a year or two. And I'm confident of this timetable because I asked her to marry me. And she said yes.
Running is one of the paramount hobbies that we share; more importantly, running was, for each of us, a way to deal with the frightening turn our lives had taken after our divorces. So, it only seemed fitting to make running part of our engagement.
I talked to the awesome people at John's Run/Walk Shop, Lexington's most amazing local store for all things running. When I told them my plan, they were elated, and said they'd be thrilled to help. So the following Saturday (February 8th), I took Hillary to the store, where she picked out a new pair of running shoes. When she went to give them a spin around the block (which John's insists everyone do before buying, to get a feel for the pair), I prepared myself with the ring.
When she came back into the store, I popped the question.
One of the dedicated John's employees captured the moment on her phone. The video is on John's Run/Walk Shop's Facebook Page
Our friend Sarah created this image for us, and I can't think of anything more fitting that she could have captioned it with.
Even if I look exhausted and/or impaired.
So the last two weeks have been me trying to get back into the flow of a five-day school week (we've only managed that TWICE since Christmas break), and Hillary and I deciding all the things that come with planning a wedding.
Today, I had a few hours to myself: Hillary's been off to a women's retreat at church, taking the girls with her to play in the kid's room for a few hours. I decided to try to get in some much-needed milage that the crappy winter weather has robbed me of.
As I was getting ready, I received a text from the person I would have least expected.
My ex-wife.
In case you're new to the blog, my now ex-wife moved out of our house almost two years ago. It's been since August 2012 that I've even laid eyes on her, and it's taken me nearly every minute since then to get over her.
She still texts me sometimes, over small stuff. To tell me Kroger now carries my favorite brand of coffee. To send me a funny picture she found on the internet. And, surprisingly, to congratulate me on my engagement. Those texts, I don't really mind. But this particular text message, without going into too much detail, was asking for my help.
I don't know if you (dear reader) have ever had a loved one willingly distance themselves from you, but there is nothing that hurts quite as much. And watching that person go through hard times, knowing you're unable to help, is heart-wrenching.
I have a new life now. I'm about to become part of a wonderful family, with a wife and two wonderful little girls that I love more than I ever thought possible. It would be the definition of irresponsibility to help my ex when my current family needs all my resources. But how could I deny helping someone I used to care so much about?
To clear my head, I went for a run. My longest run in months.
I may have had some thinking to do.
Even before my head was clear, I knew my responsibly was to my new family, not to her, and creating a new thread between us wouldn't be healthy for either of us. So, after my run, I sent her a respectful text in return and told her I couldn't help.
And now, her I sit on a Sunday morning, watching Faith, the most amazing four- year-old in the world, playing My Little Pony games on her mom's laptop. I couldn't be more affirmed in my decision to dedicate myself to my awesome little family. Yeah, the road getting here was tough and painful, but all that's behind me now. And it was well worth the trip.
I think she has the pony fashion game memorized by now.
