To Sachi With Love

Aileen wrote me today to tell me she thinks Sachi is often unhappy. I guess MySpace has a tool that allows its users to express their current mood, and Sachi's is usually unhappy or angry. What should I make of that? Sachi is supposed to be the light of our lives ... she's a happy-go-lucky kid. But she's also sorely out of place in this world. She has so many friends, and everyone seems to adore her, yet she seems so lonely, as if she longs for something more.

I can relate. Before I met Dane, the only friends I knew and trusted were my sisters and brother. And even after we married, I'd longed for the company of my sisters — the honesty, the laughter, the fun. Then I met Kate, and she filled that void for me. And when Kate meets her own true love, I know she'll have less time for me, but that's OK, because I'll be so happy that she'll have finally found what she's been longing for.

I wish I could find a way to encourage Sachi to confide in me. But I'm her disciplinarian. I'm hard on her. I expect a lot of her, even though she's only 11. I understand that she feels misunderstood. But I cut her very little slack. I hope she knows it's because I love her and I want her to make something of herself. And for Sachi, more than anything else, I so want her to be truly happy.

I don't know how to let her know how I feel without making her suspicious and uncomfortable, but I've got to find a way. Because if I can't even tell her that I genuinely love her, how can she even think I'd understand her or be able to give her guidance?

My Sunshine

Chris is coming home this summer. Not to stay, but for the summer. He's bringing his girlfriend, Sophia, with him. I already like her a lot, and I don't really even know her yet. But she makes Chris happy, and they love each other — what's not to like?

I'll be happy to see them both next week. Now if only I can get Jenny to come back.

Run Rabbit, Run

For a good portion of my life, I've been a running fool. But in January, I decided to really get serious. At first, I didn't do a good job of logging all the miles I ran. I figured I'd just get to it whenever I could. Mostly, I kept to between three and six miles.

I'd promised Kate that I'd run the MORE half marathon in NYC on April 6. But then JT, a close family friend, was to celebrate her 60th birthday that day, and she couldn't go. Instead, we were going to do a half in Grand Rapids, but one week prior, neither of us was prepared.

So I decided to get serious. I don't know why I suddenly wanted to run a half marathon, and even to this day, I can't explain it. In fact, I don't even like the idea of it anymore, but a promise is a promise.

So I'm at 10 of 18 weeks of training, and both of us are planning to run 10 of 12 of the Greater Lansing Race Series through Playmakers. I mostly want the free bread card in 2009. Come September, we'll both run the Capital City River Run — our first half marathon.

Last weekend (5-18-08), Kate and I ran the Capitol Bancorp for JA 5k. I finished it with my best time ever: 30 minutes, 19 seconds. I know it's not like I'm Speed Racer or anything. Even my Ma, who's 75, said, "You're so slow!" But Kate bumped into an old friend from the YMCA — Chris.

After the race, he said, "You ran at the perfect pace for me!"

Thanks, Chris. I never thought I'd be another runner's rabbit. Imagine me — a pacesetter!?

Teresa Mastin made Kate promise we'd both run the Chicago Marathon with her next summer. I can't be held accountable for promises someone else made for me, can I?