Happy Birthday Margador!!!

I woke up early this morning, as I do many mornings, and REALLY didn't want to get out of bed. But I did, because I told my mom I would meet her for a swim. As I told my husband I was leaving, he rolled over and said in a slurred tired voice, "Tell your mom I said happy birthday". How does he remember these things when he can't remeber to put down the toilet seat?

I set off for the pool trying to wake up and excite myselft about the day. It didn't happen until I saw my mom getting out of her car, ready for the swim. She had no idea I was going to give her sprints as a workout for her birthday, but took it on with joy and vigor as she does all of her workouts.

This is her second season of triathlons. At 62 years old, my amazing mother completed her first triathlon. Alghough she will never live down the world record time she set in "slowness" for her transition, she did fabulous! I am constatnly amazed by how fast she can swim. I actually try not to leave the wall when she does so I don't have to realize she beats me all the time! Her first race of the season will be the Moses Lake Triathlon in June. I loved watching her race last year but am even more excited to be in the same race with her.

I posted the photos of the horses "rears", because about thirty years ago my mom and dad bough me my first "Orange Pony". My mom was really into raising and showing horses, a passion she passed along to me. Peaches was my pony and she taught me how to ride, fall off, and the joy of laying on your soft fluffy pony on a warm summer afternoon. My mom and I rode, showed, cleaned stalls, gave shots, carried water, threw hay bales, spent nights in pick-up trucks, and had some amazing years enjoying our four legged friends.

We both went our separate ways from the horses and I think really missed those lazy rides and days of hard work. Now that we train for triathlons together, I have found myself comparing triathlons to horse shows. Although expensive, they certainly fit into the budget better than the horses and our bikes don't bite as often as Mr Todd did. Most importantly, we have found a passion both can share and experience again together. We have learned, it isn't the ultimate events that we love, but the mornings together in the water or day on the trail, spending time, laughing and loving.

Happy Birthday Margador! You are beautiful and amazing. You inspire me and make me aspire to be like you each day...Geeze :)