Long story short:

Okay, I lie, this is a LONG story - no way about it.

The simple answer:  It worked out better than I could have even imagined.

Thank YOU for rescuing me.

Oh, I thought you rescused me......

The man who claims me as his little sister is in church last Sunday.  It's my birthday.  He stands up in church and he tells everyone it's my birthday.  His wife tells the "congregation" "Even though he has lived in this town his ENTIRE life, and yes, he knows you all know he doesn't have a little sister, he adopted her.  I'm sure they were thinking the heat had hit him(afterall, he lives in Texas).  They all pray for me.  (and as usual, I'll take every prayer I can get.)

I woman walks up to him after church and asks Tim:  "You adopted a little sister?"  "How did that work out for you".  And accoding to Tim - he said, "it worked out realy nice" 

Let's see:  Tim D:  Your two sons were in my wedding.  I was in your wedding, your daughters wedding - WITH my two sons, your youngest calls me ever Mother's Day and I've swam in the ocean with your grandkids. 

There is SOOOO much I could say right now.  The real answer is really simple:

IT worked out well.......

I fly from Denver to Newark and meet my friend Laurel.  And really, the first thing I remember telling her - "please don't be surprised when my running buddy shows up in Athens".... :-)

We run.  We run again.  We run on the highline canal.  I hire him an assistant.  I'm sad when the summer passes and we have to stop our running - he's going to France - I'm going to Greece.  It was truly "monumental" - not sure if that is the right word.  We run the Denver half marathon - and pacing at 9:45 as we crossed the finished line, well, "this is as good as it gets!"  "I can't go any faster".......

We say our good-bye's.  We say our thank-you's.  Some how at this moment, whatever we say is not going to be enough.

Two weeks from today, I'm running my first marathon.  Greece 2010  - October 31, 2010.  I can't believe you aren't going!!!  We've run together.  We've trained.  You even registered!!!!  AND you have run a marathon!!!  Really???? 

Download a running plan.

Ok, Laurel lives in DC, I need someone to keep me motivated........

Running Buddy #1:  Let's meet at the Firehouse at Wash Park.  Okay.  I'm hung over.  Me, not him.  Two laps around the park.  2.3 miles each lap - run 4 min,walk 1.  We run.

You are not inspiring me.  I need to push you.  I need you to push me.  I like you immediately.  I hate you almost a second after..... 

WOW!  What can I say???? To the guy I would pick up at 4:45 am to run with me and then throw out of my car.  I have never thrown ANYONE out of my car.  Thank you. for inspiring me.  Thank you for some how wanting me to come pick you up.  And as you said, I never once didn't want to run. Of course, it was after the first few months.  And really, I needed you as much as you needed me.  SO - you are welcome. and thank you.  Thank you for helping me help you.

Where are we going next?

Oh, by the way, you need to meet my other running buddy........

Even if you do go, MOST groups are very inviting, very nice, but you still don't go back.  It's outside your comfort zone.  SO, what do you do???  Most of us do nothing.  Or complain. 

Me - well, and once again a friends suggestion, I run an ad on Craigslist . I know, I know - much danger has been reported in the news about Craigslist.  Take precautions. 

I place an ad: STRICTLY PLATONIC.  m4w  - I need a running partner.  I'm slow.  I live near XXXXX, I have a flexible schedule, but cannot commit to a running group every Tuesday (insert day of week here) night (lunch, morning, etc).  I'm running my first marathon in October.  I need someone to train with - I want someone to push me.  I have a flexible schedule, but need to run during the day.

That's it = and quite honestly I ran the ad under women for men.  I have tons of wonderful female friends. It seems all my guys friends have disappeared (ie - married) and most of their wives don't understand I truly am JUST A FRIEND - (but that's another story). 

As you can imagine, my e-mail box was full.  Not all offering running help!  I want to run, I want train and I need help.  Really, that's it!  Ran with one guy, we ran, then I started receiving e-mails about wine choices. Look, I love wine - but I want a running partner.

I answered several other ads, but only met to run with two others.  And let me tell you, did we run......

View II:  Wow,  you moved to a foreign country, you wanted to better your life, you want to respect your heritage - English will take a while, but I am going to continue to speak my current language and speak English (American) when I can.

SOOOOOO, Americans, what language do you speak? AS AN AMERICAN, DO YOU TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES???

According to this site , only 22% of Americans have a passport.  WOW!

So, to the 88% of Americans that have never been out of this country.....let me tell you a couple of things:

• EVERYWHERE you go, there is a sign in the native country language AND English. 
• Someone will start a conversation with you, IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE, then when you say "English" (in other words, I only speak English") they start speaking English (they know both languages)
• When you mention the word miles, they say, "Oh, you are an American"

Is our government the worst?  No.  BUT, we are no longer the superpower we used to be.  I am a conservative, very proud Southern Girl, who is open to other ways of life.  We were brought together to make something better.  Take something you gave me - stand by my Country and listen - in your language, to your ideas.  Tell you why I think my ideas are better, and how I know I'm right.  And well, if I'm wrong, C'est l'vie????? 

(It's funny, spell check, told me that the last word was spelled wrong.  However, when I hit "google translate" I have a correct word").  Government - stay out my business.  People - figure out how to make it work together.......4

Over a year ago (September 2009) a friend of mine (Michele) mentioned she wanted to go to Greece.  Great idea!  Great goal!  Loved the idea for her.

While online sometime a few weeks later, I ran across a notice about the "2500 anniversary of the original running from Marathon to Athens".  A full marathon - THE MARATHON.  Marathon, Greece to Athens, Greece.  The 2009 run wasn't until October.  The 2010 marathon was still over a year away.  "Hey Michele, look at this".  "No", she says. "I don't run and I want to go to relax".  Ok

And really, that should be where the story ends.    I've never run a marathon - I've never had any desire to run a marathon.  Why would you do that to yourself??  Famous last words. 

There was no "half-marathon" option.  At this point, I had completed two half-marathons.  The first one was the hardest thing I had ever done.  The second, not as bad, but that was enough. 

Hmmm.  Really?  The 25th hundred anniversary.  490BC.  WOW!  Ok, I'm going to end up doing a full one at some point in my life, how can I miss THIS one?  I've never been to Greece. 

Call Laurel.  She's the one that talked me into the first half marathon.  If she'll do it, I'm in.  Call Laurel - "No WAY".  "Come on".  She says the same thing "no way".  I send her the e-mail anyway.  (We live across the country from each other).  Two days later, I receive a phone call.  "Here's my credit card number".  :-)  Oh my......

From a simple goal meeting to an achievement of a lifetime - and I haven't even done the race yet. 

Finding a training schedule, shoes, more shoes, more GU.  I need someone to run with.......

That is a question many people are asked during their career. 

Company ABC would like to hire sales people from Company XYZ.  Well, let's say the person "ranking" third in sales is still not going to leave Company XYZ to go to the same thing at a different company.  Too much risk.  UNLESS, #3 is laid off, then they are on their way to ABC.  HOWEVER, this is where the term "the devil known" comes from. 

The perfect storm is brewing....  The war on talent will continue.