The WHY Dilemma

Not too long ago I had a conversation with my 5-year-old grandson who has a particular affinity for the word “Why”.    I enjoy his unbound curiosity for understanding why things are the way they are, especially when that curiosity is not aimed at me.   It’s not that I mind answering the non-stop why questions, it’s more that I know when we are 4 “whys” deep on a topic I inevitably will reach a question that exceeds my knowledge base.   Take the following exchange from last fall:Me:  Let’s go blow the leaves off the lawn (he loves using tools)O: Why do we need to blow them off the lawn?

Me: So they won’t cause bare spots?

O: Why will they cause bare spots?

Me:  Because they will kill the grass.

O:  Why will they kill the grass?

Me: How about we take the dog for a walk instead.

There are several technics I’ve honed to get out of this cycle.  There’s the tried-and-true deflection…” Good question, ask your (dad, mom, grandma)”.  This works particularly well when they ask where babies come from.   Then there’s the distraction method…” oh, look at the time, I think Grandma has cookies waiting for us)”.  Finally, there is always the option to make up an answer.  I find these days kids beyond the age of 6 know how to check an answer with Alexa or Google so it’s best not to give an answer that leaves them with the impression you are becoming senile.

Over the holidays my 4-year-old granddaughter was watching me try to tie my running shoes and she asked me why my hand shakes and why my movements are so slow.   I panicked thinking I’m on the verge of a series of “whys” if I answer wrong might scare or confuse a 4-year-old.   I explained I had a sickness in my brain that makes it hard to do some things.  She thought about that for a bit and then asked “Does it hurt when you run”.  I told her it does sometimes.  Then she asked the big WHY…Why do you keep running?

It's a simple question with a very complex answer.  Is it because it’s what I’ve chosen to keep my memory of my son alive through Help in the Nick of Time fund raising?  Is it because I am stubborn and unwilling to let Parkinsons totally take running away from me?  Or maybe it’s because on the days I am able to get out and run, I feel better both mentally and physically afterwards.  For a short while I can push back against the disease.

Regardless of which reason (or maybe because of all of them) I am pounding the roads again this year to raise funds to help children battling pediatric cancer.  With your support last year, we were able to help even more children and their families at one of the worst moments in their life.  Despite the snow and ice (yes...8 inches of snow in VA) training continues.  Slow and steady.

Next blog I’ll pass along more details on the lives we’ve touched and the smiles we created.

Till next time…..

Doing the Dopey

Those of you who followed my blog last year may recall a blog I wrote asking the question…Why had the marathon become the “in” thing to do these days?   As an example, I used the Disney World Marathon where 10’s of thousands of people sign up a year in advance and pay hundreds of dollars to spend their vacation in “the happiest place on earth” subjecting themselves to the pain of a marathon.    The rational side of me would rather stay home, save hundreds of dollars, avoid all the travel hassles and save my vacation days for something a lot less painful.   For those looking for the “marathon experience” you can always just beat your legs with a rolling pin for an hour.

In reality I would do the Disney Marathon in a second if I could still run that far.  Instead, I was able to experience it through my daughter who ran her first marathon at Disney a week ago.   But running a marathon was not enough, she and her husband signed up for the “Dopey”.  Aptly named, the Dopey is a series of runs starting with a 5K (3.1 miles) on Thursday morning, a 10K (6.2 miles) on Friday, a half marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday and then a full marathon on Sunday.   Checking my calculator, that’s 48.6 miles not counting all the walking miles in the parks after the runs.  To be fair, this not race, more of a social event.  As is Disney’s style, they set it up as a whole experience with creative medals, social activities, and pictures with Disney characters along the route.  During the marathon you can even stop to ride some the rides.

While there are no Dopeys or marathons in my future I will be doing my Marathon Challenge again this year.  As long as I can move, I plan to continue the programs to help children with cancer.  More on the “Help in the Nick of Time” programs and the Marathon Challenge to come.

In case you are wondering….yes my daughter and her husband did complete them all, even stopping for pictures and stopping for a ride in the park.  I’m very proud of them.  They got the medals and experience; I got to watch their children (I got the better deal).