A Local Runner’s Tragic Story

I ask you all to join me in a moment of silence. A dear friend has departed from my life.

Yes, it’s true. My very last jar of Trader Joe’s Raw, Creamy, Unsalted Almond Butter is gone. Depleted from my life. [insert dramatic wail here]. Seriously – this stuff is good and I’d petition for a Trader Joe’s in Gainesville (heck, in Florida!) just to have access to inexpensive, gloriously delicious almond butter. Florida bloggers, who’s with me?? (And in the meantime, who wants to go on a road trip to Atlanta?)

There’s only one breakfast that’s fitting for the send off of my jar. Oats in a jar. Specifically the comfort of pumpkin oats.

Hello beautiful. In my oats:

• 1/3 cup oats, water, rice milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin
• 1 T. golden flax
• splash of maple syrup
• lots of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice!
• pepitas on top

What a proper and delicious end to my almond butter, and a proper and delicious start to my day!

*****

On a very serious note, I wanted to share a story that Ross told me last night about a mother of kids that go to his middle and high school. Last Friday this woman headed out for her morning run along a highway in a very quiet, rural area. She was definitely a seasoned runner as she was training for a marathon, and she seemed to be doing all the right things, including wearing a reflective vest and even carrying a flashlight. She was running with the flow of traffic (running north on the northbound side of the road) with headphones in listening to her music. She didn’t hear a pick up truck coming up behind her and didn’t step out of the way. The right outside mirror hit the woman on the back of the head, knocking her down. (This wasn’t in the article and I’m not sure how accurate this is, but at school Ross was told her skull was crushed by the force of the blow). They rushed the woman to a hospital but she unfortunately passed away Monday night.

You can see an article in the paper about this here.

I don’t know what you guys do, but this is why Ross and I ALWAYS run (or walk!) against the flow of traffic! If we’re running north, we run along the southbound side specifically so we can see oncoming traffic. I know many runners out there use their iPod while running, but just be careful. It does help you zone out and get in a better running groove, but it also may make your response time to external events a little slower.

Most importantly – take the time to be thankful for your life today! Despite all of our precautions and ways to keep safe, we don’t know what will happen next and we can’t control external situations. I’m not trying to get depressing on you guys, just encouraging you to live your life, seize the moment, be thankful for what you have, and love!

I’m off for what will hopefully be a fortunate series of events today! Please don’t forget to vote for me for the Sam-e good mood blogging gig! Not only is it a dream job, but I think it’s all the more enticing since I’m unemployed! And remember – you can vote once a day per computer per entry (meaning you can vote for more than one person) until October 3oth! Help me get to the top 20!! Thank you!