Yep, it’s that time of year again.
Temperatures are cooler, a few leaves have started to turn and the kids have
gone back to school. A whole new routine begins—one where I can write without
constantly hearing, “Mom, do you know where my flip-flops went?” (As if they
got up and walked away of their own accord!) “Mom, what’s for breakfast (or
lunch or dinner)? Mom, can you drive me…” (Fill in the blank—the choices are
endless.)
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| Tara at the 2012 Championship Race |
In our house, the beginning of the
school year means the beginning of fall sports. No, my girls didn’t get their
athletic ability from me, thank heavens. My husband is a sports fanatic. (Not
watching—doing!) While for most high school sports enthusiasts, fall means
football, it doesn’t around here. My girls run cross country. My youngest,
Kristen, is a freshman this year. Her older sister, Tara (a junior), spent the
summer brainwashing my beautiful ballerina into believing she likes to run.
Tara is a die-hard competitor (Nevada state champ last year—yes we live in CA,
but Tahoe kids compete in Nevada since it’s so much closer.) This year Tara’s
goal is not only to be personal State Champ again but to have her girls’ team
win as well. It didn’t take a math whiz to figure out she needed at least one
more fast runner to accomplish her goal. Kristen is a recreational runner. Tara
decided that somewhere in her sister’s genetic makeup, there must be a competitive
racer just waiting to be released. So she is slowly but surely torturing her
into shape, determined to let the team’s missing link loose! LOL Kristen is
improving. She has until the end of October to accomplish her sister’s (and
what is becoming her) goal.
So, on most Fridays I drive an hour or
two (or three) to races to cheer them on.
Since we are so immersed in the running
world around here, it isn’t surprising I chose to make one of my heroines
a runner. In Maybe This Time, Chloe runs into her old high school pal, Adam,
on the course of the Lake Tahoe Marathon. A friendship turns into a romance in
this story about finding love a second time around. There’s plenty of humor
too. The book opens on the set of a reality dating show set in Hawaii. The
show’s name—Get Lei’d. One of my more
clever moments if I do say so myself. So if you enjoy running or reality TV or
funny romances, give this one a try.
What’s the fall sport of choice in your
house?
10 comments:
I admire all that running, but it's been years since I ran. It's great you have athletic kids! Maybe this Time sounds fantastic...congratulations!
Great post, Jannine. Your girls have a lifelong skill, which is great. Football dominates Saturday afternoons at our house. Hubs watches, I read or put in earbuds & write. Baseball playoffs are my thing. I love this time of year.
Alicia, yep, the girls are both runners and skiers. I used to run...used to. Now I hike in the woods with my dog.
Diane, my husband can't sit still long enough to watch a whole football game, thank God. He watches bits and pieces. The only sport I kind of like watching is golf. Haven't a clue why since I don't play.
None of us have ever been runners. A brisk walk does it for me. Fall at our house means football on TV for my husband. He switches back and forth and manages to watch parts of several games over the course of the day. This year he's having a bit of trouble adjusting to the time zone change in CA. The East Coast games start at 9:00 a.m. - way too early for football. LOL
Alison, it's strange how we get used to watching things at certain times. When I was back east years ago, I couldn't believe people stayed up until midnight to watch Monday Night Football! I'm all about walking now, too.
Football, hands down, in my house. My older son played football, and my younger son was in the marching band, so I spent something like 8 years in a row going to high school games, home and away. I think 8 years in a row we had a delayed Thanksgiving dinner, too, because of the big cross-town rivalry game. I miss high school football! Now I have to content myself with college and pros on TV.
Since I don't have boys, I've never done the HS football thing. Last time I went to a game was when I was in HS! Sounds like you had some fun years, Leah.
Coming in a little late here. All four of my kids - two of each - did track and cross country, and basketball, and football (one played in college) and volleyball (state runner up) and baseball and softball. You get the idea. Now it's soccer and little league and band concerts with the grandkids. Good stuff!
Margo, at least my two do the same sports so I don't meet myself coming and going! I can't imagine trying to keep up with four of them!
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