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Friday, September 25, 2009

As to win the prize


I feel like I’ve been running a marathon.
Not that I’ve ever run a marathon. I’ve run a mile, albeit several, several years ago. I used to run a mile every day in 7th grade. I hated every minute of it, and yet I was always proud at the end that I did it. I ran a mile. Better yet, I ran a mile and I wasn’t last. I wasn’t even close to last. Feels good.
I’ve even run a mile and a half. Did I ever run two miles? I don’t think so. But I remember running that mile and a half. Oh, dear Lord, I did NOT think I could make it those two extra laps. Are you kidding me? I couldn’t do it. That last lap was torture. I had a stitch in my side, I was hot and sweaty, I couldn’t breathe, I was thirsty, and I was tired. But I did it, of course. Because if you can run a mile, you can generally run a mile and a half.
Now, I understand that a mile and a half is nowhere near a marathon. So maybe I should say I feel like I’ve been running a mile and a half. Because I can do a mile, no problem. A mile? I’ve been doing a mile for years now. Kids? No problem. 50,000 words in 30 days? Piece of cake. School on top of it all? Okay, that’s stepping it up, but it’s still doable.
Now throw a full-time job on top of it, and you’re pushing it. Have the husband go back to school, too, and we’re into those two extra laps. We may even be up to two miles by now. And you know what? It’s doable. Because if you can run a mile, you can run a mile and a half. And if you can run a mile and a half, you can run two.
But, Lord, I’m tired. I’m thirsty. Sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe and I’ve got a stitch in my side.
But I can see that finish line coming up. I can see it.
Classes for spring 2010 posted, and I know that for my final semester—my final semester—I will be taking Creative Writing: Prose and World Literature. Once more, I have professors I’ve had before, and I am interested in the subject matter. I will graduate in eight months. That’s still a while, but it’s only about one more lap.
One more lap. I can do that.

4 comments:

Brooke said...

you totally amaze me. so excited for you that you are so close to finishing school!!

Chris said...

I'm so proud of you in so many ways...not least of which is your way with words!

The Medievalist said...

Sure am glad you don't have to walk to Mars-McLain Science twice a day on Tuesday and Thursday...

Jennie Quillen said...

You amaze me! I love you!