I know it has been a long time since I've written a blog post. Almost 6 months actually. The truth is--the last post I wrote was June 29, 2011 and my beloved Papa died 6 days later.
I didn't want to write.
I didn't want to feel anything.
I'm still not sure I want to now but I felt compelled to say something...anything...because I am just so grateful to be who I am and where I am.
I miss my Papa dearly. A wise friend told me not so long ago that I haven't let myself have time to grieve him and she's right. I haven't--not yet. I will this summer. I will allow myself to feel the pain of his loss and the gratitude that I am positive that he's in Heaven.
I keep a picture of my Papa in my classroom and I have had several students ask me who he is. I relish those opportunities because I get to start a sentence with..."Let me tell you about my Papa..." They might get the feeling that he is not a part of my daily life but in actuality he is.
I think of him every day but especially when I run. As my feet pound the pavement (or treadmill) and my thighs burn and I feel like I may lose my breath I think of him and remember that I GET to do this. That is my mantra--how lucky am I? I GET to do this. He was to the point that he couldn't get up at all and yet God gave me these two legs that can propel me as far as I want. I owe it to myself and my Papa to literally take that gift and......run.
