Funny How A Little Good News Lifts Your Spirits

Day 36 -- Sept. 12, 2012

Today, I'm 190.6 pounds of rolling thunder.

Earlier today, I was 190.6 pounds of rolling anger, but it's amazing what a lift you get when your child does something good.

Today it was announced that our older son is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. He's one of only eight from his school who qualified, and one of only 21 kids from the entire district. So it's a proud moment for mom and dad and all his family.

Now we've known for a little while but were sworn to secrecy, but today it came out in our hyper-local online newspaper, so it's official. We can shout it from the mountaintops.

And on Monday, he inched a little closer to choosing a college during his campus visit. This, however, brings a little bounce to his step on the recruiting trail.

Last weekend, we went to the second cross country meet of the year, where he finished 18th in the junior varsity race earning his first medal. His time was just a hair under 20 minutes, which is a far cry from where he started.

As a freshman, he showed up at the team time trial with a Walk-Man and headphones and ran/walked his way to a time that was somewhere north of 30 minutes for a 5K. And while experience told me that he'd be able to cut significant chunks of time off if he applied himself, getting down under 20 minutes over the past three years has been a great feat.

Although he'd never admit it, I'm guessing the cross country medal means as much or more to him right now in life than the National Merit semifinalist, but both are the result of a lot of determination and dedication both inside the classroom and on the field of competition.

Heck, I'd settle for getting under 30 minutes for a 5K myself right now.

So it's hats off to the lad. He's struggled mightily and achieved a goal he's been chasing for a long time.

Now it's my turn. I've got a job interview today, and then my 190.6 of rolling thunder will hit the pavement.

It's long-run day, so if you see the world's slowest human laboring through 6.5 miles, give me a wave.