Let's start in New Jersey, where a hearty congratulations is in order for two of our favorite people. Dean Gray, simply the best guy I know, and his lovely wife Erica (who also doubles as my most consistent and appreciated blog commenter) welcomed to the world their second little girl, Naomi June.Naomi came in at a robust 8 lbs 10 ounces, and while that's quite impressive, it's not quite big enough to fend off the inevitable rough-housing to come from big sister Nadia over the coming years.
When Dean originally texted me the information, he introduced his daughter as "Nadia June" which prompted me to ask when Dean had turned into George Foreman and started naming all of his kids the same thing. Turns out it was a typo, the result of a fried brain from dealing with the numerous responsibilities of an impending dad. Fatherhood isn't easy you know...unlike motherhood.
Here in Aspen this week has basically consisted of watching my beloved Phillies in the postseason, broken up by periods where I nervously wait to watch my beloved Phillies in the postseason. Tough to concentrate on much else, particularly when you consider the Fightins' haven't won a playoff game since I was eighteen.
At the time, I was a freshman riding the bench for the Trenton State Men's Soccer Team, feigning interest in the action on the field as I waited breathlessly for the PA announcer to give the update on the NLCS and World Series.
Last year, I threw up a celebratory post when the Phils clinched the division on the final day of the regular season, but since that was promptly followed by a three-game bludgeoning at the hands of the buzzsaw that was the 2007 Colorado Rockies, I figured I'd wait a bit this year to avoid any potential jinxing. Now that I think about it, maybe I'll just ignore what happened today and move on with this post.
Saturday morning was a big day on the aneurysm front. I decided it was time to test myself a bit, more mentally than physically, and race in a local 5K. When I arrived at the start, I was surpised to learn that instead of a flat road race, this was a cross-country style event with over 350 feet of climbing. Nonetheless, I had a great time getting out there and running again, simultaneously completing the slowest yet most rewarding 5K of my life.
Here's local legend Terry Schaefer in the finishing chute, completing his second straight championship in the 60-65 year old age group of the Aspen Race Series, a three-stage event that covers the entire summer.
Terry was kind enough to return the favor and shoot a pic of a clearly distracted me.
After the race, I wanted to take a minute and send a message back to everyone that made it possible for me to get back to where I am today. I have a full appreciation for how fortunate I am; how easily things could have ended for me last spring, or how many things could have gone wrong with the surgery, leaving the idea of even running a 5K an impossibility.So to my wife Lauren, my loving family, and all my friends and co-workers that sent me kind words either before the surgery or during the recovery, this is for you. Oh, and let's not forget my wonderful surgeon and the hopsital staff at Thomas Jefferson who performed the clipping, because let's face it...my wife and friends and family were great and all, but they have neither the skill nor the steady hand to pull off a procedure like that.
In case you can't read it, it says THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!