One Year Ago Today

I came apart inside a world made of angry people

I found a boy who had a dream

Making everyone smile

He was sunshine

Colbie Caillat

So, It was one year ago today that I set out from Madison heading west for Fitness Ridge. What's the biggest difference between today and February 10th, 2008? The temperature in Madison that's what. When I left last year in was -10 and today it is 58 degrees. The nicest day we have had here since Halloween. Seriously my life has seen many changes in the last 12 months. If I had to pick one thing that has made me happiest in the last year it would easily be the number of new friends I have made. As you get older it seems that it is so much harder to meet new people but this year has been a treasure trove for me. All the great people I have met at the Ridge and this blog, all the people that I have met through volleyball, and even some relatives that I feel like I have reconnected with.

Well what else? Yea I weigh 3/4 of what I did a year ago that's very cool but more than the weight it the feeling that comes with it. Not a sense of accomplishment but more a sense of fitting in better, not having some of the fears that I had before, not stressing over things that used to stress me a lot. I'm not done by any stretch and I'll be back at the Ridge in a little over a month to kick start my summer, because winter has been shall we see stagnant. I can't wait to get back outside, I can't wait to get my toes in the sand, and I can't wait to be warm and sweaty and not have to walk outside and have my hair freeze by the time I get to the car.

I played volleyball Sunday night and I was ecstatic with the way my knee felt. I babied it for two weeks and totally forgot about it while playing. I wish I could say the same for my serve. Winter volleyball will make us better but my rag-tag team of athletes not volleyball players is getting schooled pretty well by people that have played a lot of competitive volleyball.

I don't have a ton of other new stuff but I felt that I should comment on my one year anniversary. Sunday's live music was fun even though I had to bribe the bartender to keep the TV on so I could watch a Terp win out of one eye while watching the stage with the other. Jacky leaves this weekend for her week at the Ridge with my sister-in-law. And even though it is 58 today winter is by no means close to done here. It is going to be cold this weekend. As always Peace and have a great week. Jim