Tae Bo a Go-Go and the Key to the City

Since I have been able to walk, I have always wanted to run. I was told as a child that because I was tall and big that I was comical to watch run and decided then and there that I would never run again, physically. Seems I have been doing the entire running in my brain instead. Well, okay, you could call my rather fast pace towards the fridge as technically a mild jog. Lol.

Since the smoking has dramatically decreased (and somehow I have managed to actually grow fingernails in the process), I have begun to pick up my cardio workout again. Very slowly and deciding to ease myself back into it, I chose Billy Blanks Tae Bo Workout. Prior to gaining all the weight, that was my workout of choice. What can I say? Learning to box and get in shape all at once? I'm there! Noooo, I am so not there anymore I painfully learned this week. My home is not newer and has a full basement, so it was me and the floor joists having it out to see who would be the winner and champion! I am thrilled to report that the joists won and I made it through a whopping 5 mins of the workout before I had to acquiesce. You laugh, but I was shell shocked at the 3 min. point! Lol. I was heaving deep breaths and worked up a great sweat and really stretched out some muscles, but that is something that I know I can and will do once again.

On the walking front, I was thrilled that I had an idea I could realistically accomplish physically this week. On Tuesday, I had another "hot date" with Dr. Austin Burns, DDS and his staff. After some pretty significant mouth repair, I was waiting patiently for my husband to pick me up outside. The humidity was less that day than the previous and I decided to just start walking. I figured my husband would see me on the way and I stayed on the main thoroughfares. I walked over a mile before my husband saw me and I was more surprised to tell you all that I was NOT WINDED when I got into our car! (Happy dancing lightly on those poor, bruised floor joists! Lol)

Inspired by that, I announced to my husband, J, later that night that my little boy and I were going to walk around Brazil the next day and just enjoy ourselves. Now knowing that our youngest is only 4, his little legs are taking three steps to my one. It was perfect! I was able to keep an even steady pace the whole way while chattering to my little guy and he to me and we just kept our pace. We walked to City Hall and paid our water bill and then we saw Mayor Bradshaw. She was so happy to see Iain and he was happy to see both her and Debbie Pierce. Then Mayor Bradshaw bestowed upon him was just might be the greatest thing EVER (up until this point) in his life! She gave him a small lapel pin (goldtone) that was, the Key to the City! It came with a special keepsake card and as I pinned that on his shirt, he about burst with pride. He played shy at the time, but he discussed that with the ladies at the antiques shop next door as we purchased 2 Matchbox items and then graciously informed everyone within earshot at Lynn's Soda Fountain, where we dined on delicious deli sandwiches and he got a "Daddy" sized Root Beer Float. There was only one dark spot on the day and I made that to myself. As we walked past the now closed Everything Under the Sun shop and towards Goodwill, I did the unthinkable. I looked at us in the shop windows and for a moment felt defeated. I hate what I saw and I wondered if I would be the fat woman forever. I felt disheartened but only for a brief moment.

As we came to cross over in front of Speedway, a woman was walking towards us with her very trimmed and in shape figure, out for her workout walk. She looked at me, adjusted her sunglasses and said, "Are you Karen Meister the blogger?" I smiled at her and said yes. "Keep up the great work! You are on your way and never give up! You are looking fabulous!" WOW. God is good isn't He? Just when I allowed myself to maybe just give up, that happened! I never got the name of that woman, but I will never forget her smile or her words.

Wednesday- 3.5 miles walked. Goal: Just to remember always that there is a tomorrow. No matter how many mistakes I may have had today, there is a God in heaven that loves me and another 1000 calories I didn't overeat today.

I believe it was Blanche, from the movie "A Streetcar Named Desire" that said, "I have always relied on the kindness of strangers."

Yep, life is...good.

Karen Meister can be contacted at: ksframeofmind@yahoo.com and feel free to add me at Facebook!