NOVEMBER COMETH

One week from today American citizens will head to the voting booths and cast their ballots for the next president of the United States.

As that day draws near the two presidential candidates, Sen. Barack Obama (D) and Sen. John McCain (R) are visiting battleground states and holding rally’s in order to swing the majority vote in their direction.

Helen, a stay-at-home mom and registered independent, recently attended an Obama rally in Leesburg, Va. and reports that she was energized by the experience.

“I had never been to any kind of a rally before,” says Helen. “If you had asked me a year ago if I planned on attending a political rally I probably would have laughed at you and given a resounding ‘no.’ But I can honestly say that I would do it again in a heart beat if the opportunity presented itself.”

The rally attendance was estimated as high as 10,000 people and Helen says the two-hour traffic jam she sat in makes that number seem about right.

“Sitting in traffic was the worst part,” she said. “But once I got there and got out of my car and started walking with all the other Obama supporters I quickly forgot about the frustration of the commute. There was such an energy of excitement in the air.”

Helen said the city of Leesburg did a great job in hosting the event and the police presence was very helpful with getting people to the event quickly and safely.

“Leesburg is a very cute little town with quaint little shops along the road and beautiful homes with immaculate yards lining the streets,” said Helen. “I was able to walk down the main road to the event and capture some fun pictures on my camera. Then, Obama’s motorcade came down the road and it was suddenly so real that I couldn’t wait to get to the rally site so I just started running down the road with everyone else.”

According to Helen, the placement of the stage where Sen. Obama spoke and the long lines for security checks made for a mild frustration amongst rally goers.

“If there were 10,000 people at the rally then I was probably 8,000 people back from the stage,” she said. “I couldn’t really see much of what was going on, I could hear the speakers and I even saw Obama walk out on to the stage, but it was very challenging to see him. He was so far away that his head looked smaller than my fingernail.”

The opening speaker at the rally was former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, followed by current Gov. Tim Kaine who introduced Sen. Obama to the crowd. Helen disclosed the excitement of the event made her wish she had attended more rallies during this grueling campaign and she encourages others to attend rallies if they have the opportunity.

“I think that everyone should attend a political rally if they have one close to their home,” said Helen. “Whoever people are voting for they should try to get out and actually see and hear them in person. It is so amazing to walk and talk with perfect strangers that have the same candidate in mind for president as you do. The sense of unity is overwhelming and it was worth every minute that I had to sit in traffic in order to get there. There is only a week left of this election mayhem; if you get the chance, go out and get involved with the campaign of your choice and make sure you get to the polls and vote.”

Until next year...

Camping in the great outdoors is a favorite pastime for many that brings a connection with nature that can’t be found anywhere else.

Bob and Helen started camping with their family for the first time this summer. While not every experience was great, it still left a desire to go camping again next year.

“On our first camping trip we had been at the campsite for twenty minutes when Dorothy casually threw a rock into the air and shattered the back window of our car,” said Helen. “Fortunately, we hadn’t ventured too far from home and were able to call in help from our usual rescue squad. By the time it started raining we had the kids full of Smore’s and tucked into their sleeping bags, meanwhile our car weathered the storm wrapped in a tarp in our friend’s driveway.”

“Sleeping in the tent was exciting for everyone,” Helen said. “The kids slept fine, even Maggie slept through the whole night. Bob and I weren’t so lucky. We were so uncomfortable that we didn’t get much sleep. Next year, we’re bringing the blow up mattress.”

The next camping adventure for the family offered a more peaceful environment and the company of friends who could quickly offer assistance if any tragedies would have occured.

“We figured it couldn’t get much worse than the previous trip so we threw caution to the wind and drove a few hours away to a fabulous campground,” said Helen.

During this camping trip the family was able to enjoy all the sorts of activities and great food.

“The campground offered fun family activities each night we were there,” said Helen. “The first night they had snakes for the kids to look at and hold. And the next night they had a bluegrass band that belted out some of Bob’s favorite songs.

“The campground also had a lake that the kids could swim in and a fun little island you could swim out to and walk around on. We went hiking up a beautiful trail. Our friend Blanche brought some finger-paints for the kids to play with. And the men all went and chopped some wood for the fire. They couldn’t stop talking about the fire they built with the wood they had chopped; it really was a nice fire. Then we gorged ourselves on Smore’s and roasted Starburst candies.”

“The stars were so bright and beautiful,” said Helen. “It had been so long since I had seen a true star filled sky that I wasn’t used to looking up for them anymore. But, there they were, in all their glory. It was breathtaking.” Bob, Helen and the kids are looking forward to many more camping adventures... but not until next year.

So long, September. Hello, October.

September was an especially busy month for Bob and Helen’s little family with an abundance of birthdays, a new school year and soccer.

“The month flew by, we were so busy moving from one task to another that we rarely had time to breathe,” exclaimed Helen. “We are so glad that it is a new month and that we are finally in a good routine with our schedules.”

The month started with a new school year for daughter Dorothy who began the third grade. Their son Buzz also started a small school group with friends from their church, which he is enjoying even though he is the only boy in the group.

Dorothy and Buzz both started a new soccer season at the beginning of the month. Bob joined in with the soccer craze and started playing on an indoor soccer team once a week along with coaching Buzz’s U5 team two days a week.

“Soccer keeps us very busy,” says Helen, “Both kids have practice one night a week, and not on the same night either, and then have games on Saturdays. Then Bob plays on Monday nights with an all-men league and is hoping that the co-ed team he is also apart of starts their new season again soon. I have never played soccer, so I don’t really understand the game that well. But Bob loves it, he has played it almost his entire life and he just lights up when he walks out onto the field. It’s so much fun to see him playing again and to watch him coach Buzz.”

Bob and Helen had eight birthdays to remember in September, including Bob's, who turned 33 years, their daughter Dorothy’s eighth birthday, and daughter Maggie’s first birthday. Also celebrating were Bob’s father, younger brother, and brother-in-law; and Helen’s brother and her best friend.

“We are sure that we forgot to call someone along the way, and we are very sorry for that. We love all of them dearly and wished them a Happy Birthday in our hearts even though it may not have been in person,” said Helen.

Celebrating little Maggie’s first birthday was an exciting day for everyone, but the celebration of Dorothy’s eighth birthday was a very special event for the entire family. The day was something that Dorothy had looked forward to all year long and had personally planned her celebration to last for more than one day.

“Bob took cupcakes in to her school the Friday before her birthday and she got to celebrate with all of her school friends,” says Helen. “Then, we had a family party on her actual birthday and she was loaded up with presents from her grandparents and from us. She also had a rock-climbing party with some of her friends the day after her birthday. She wasn’t too sure about climbing the rock-wall, but she still had a good time hanging out with her friends and being the center of attention. I don’t know how it always works out that she gets an entire weekend to celebrate her birthday, but it happens every single year.”

October looks to be an easier month for the family, with the only major event being Dorothy’s baptism at the end of the month. But, it’s still early and Bob and Helen are sure that something else will pop up along the way.

“We are focused on Dorothy’s baptism right now and all the festivities surrounding it,” said Helen. “But with Bob’s travel for work, the same crazy soccer schedule, and Halloween just around the corner, it looks to be another exciting month for our family. We’re just grateful there aren’t as many birthdays to worry about.”

“It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to”

Birthdays can be celebrations of another year gone by or dreaded reminders of increasing age. For 1-year-old Maggie, it was a little of both.

“She wasn’t too happy about wearing a hat and listening to us sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her,” says Helen, Maggie’s mom. “As soon as the camera came out she burst into tears. I figured she would calm down when she saw her cake, but she got madder because her dad wouldn’t let her touch the lit candle.”

Helen says Maggie was playing happily before her birthday party began. She ran around the room hitting balloons with her brother Buzz and thoroughly enjoyed all the birthday girl attention.

“She had so much fun opening presents on her birthday that we figured she would think her party was even more fun. We were obviously wrong,” said Helen.

Next year, there will only be a family party for Maggie.

“We don’t really think 1-year-olds should have birthday parties, they don’t even know what is happening,” said Helen. “We have celebrated both of our other kids first birthdays with their grandparents, but they live too far away now so we just invited a few close friends that we consider family to celebrate with us. I think we will wait a few more years before we try that again.”

Despite her unhappiness with the hat and singing, she is still one of the cutest birthday girls around. Happy first birthday Maggie.

The A-Team: Still on the run

Run. Drive. Sleep? Repeat.

Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, marked the end of the 183-mile Ragnar relay race. For one member of the A-Team, Helen, the end of the race was bittersweet.

“We spent almost twenty weeks training for this race,” says Helen. “It seemed like such a daunting task while we were training because the race is new to this area so none of us knew what to expect. All-of-the-sudden, I found myself alone, running down the C&O path, with a number pinned to my shirt.”

According to Ragnar’s Web site, "almost anyone can run in this relay race...if you train. During the relay, each team member runs three legs, ranging between 3 and 8 miles and varying in difficulty.”

The Web site describes the race as twelve “friends running day and night, relay-style, through some of the most scenic terrain North America could muster. Add in live bands, inside jokes and a mild case of sleep deprivation. The result? Some call it a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant. We call it a Ragnar Relay.”

So, why would someone choose to subject themselves to such a rigorous undertaking?

“Each of us had our reasons for running this race and each of us is triumphant in our accomplishment. My reasons stem from the birth of my beautiful baby girl. I got very sick after she was born, so much so, that I didn’t feel like I would ever be able to get out of bed, much less run a race like this. But look at me now, running this exhausting relay with a smile on my face. It’s my own little miracle.”

Helen said being able to see so many amazing sights along the way made for good entertainment throughout the race.

“I saw the biggest sod farm of my life; it went on for miles in all directions. I saw ducks swimming and otters poking their heads through the moss covered canal. The leaves that hung over head and wrapped around the tree trunks had hints of red, orange and yellow; they were beautiful. We ran through dirty, run-down small towns and quaint little towns. We watched a man skin a deer at an exchange point. We passed acres of open fields and corn taller than any I’ve ever seen. I ran down breathtaking tree-sheltered dirt paths that were straight out of a magazine. And I was able to witness ordinary people doing some extraordinary things. I will never forget this opportunity or the twelve amazing people that shared it with me,” Helen said.

Running wasn’t the hardest part of the relay in Helen’s opinion. Sitting in the van was a challenge for all of the runners. Discreetly changing out of sweaty running clothes in a van full of people was impossible. Sleep deprivation took its toll on the first six runners around 3 a.m. after their second legs were over. And food was the last thing anyone wanted.

“We spent a lot of time snacking, but that got old fast,” said Helen. “We would all sit and think out loud about yummy foods that we wanted like real mashed potatoes or a big steak. We had plenty of food and treats in the van, but none of it sounded very good after a while. We choked down what food we could and mostly lived on Gatorade and water.”

Despite the given hardships of the race and the tiresome toll it took on her body, Helen says that she would run the race again without question.

She claims the motivation to run this race again is best described by the history of Ragnar on the Web site, “Ragnar was a 9th century Norse King. He was a pirate, a raider, a conqueror, an explorer, and a wild man... In a Ragnar Relay the wild nature of this Norse King is embraced by many participants. Participants who aren't afraid to paint their van plaid, to bring along their own hair band, to join together in yelling as they cross the finish line. You may think that you are not one of them, but you are. Everyone has a wild side and nothing brings it out of you like a Ragnar Relay. Long live the Ragnar in us all!”