Wednesday, November 11, 2009

"...We Would Both Live Forever."



I wrote here a few months ago that I was more determined to live than I ever had been. The running, the sprinting hills, the insane workouts, the CPAP machine to treat my apnea, all of that is because I want to live.

Throughout all of that, my dog Roxanne has been with me. She was the main reason I would close the computer and go running, or head out to the woods. She was the main reason I lost 22 pounds.

Yesterday I took her to the vet and found out she had leukemia. The family made the hard decision last night, and we had our final moments this morning.

I don't really know how long I've had her, but I know I have been very blessed to have had her as long as I did.

Here are some of my favorite moments over the past year.


I could never tell her no.


"A noble spirt embiggens the smallest man."


At our favorite place, Juden Creek.



After a four mile hike at the Silver Mine


At Silver Mine over Labor Day


Jungle Dog!!!


Cheering on Kyle, Jordan, and myself during our Epic Marathon of Stairs


At the top of the rim of the Giant Hole, (which she climbed by herself)



Black Lab in the snow.



It's a good day to be a dog.


Watching me at Wet Weather Falls



Back porch during the winter. Josh thinks her flea collar looks like a Britney Spears mic


After this picture was taken, all of the international students had their pictures taken with Roxanne


There is in nature mutualistic symbiosis, where two organisms enjoy a relationship that benefits both, such as birds that peck meat from between the teeth of crocodiles. When I got Roxanne, she was entering the final stage of her live, as labs tend to live 12-14 years. There wasn't room for her at my sister's house as the other dogs were eating her food and she didn't have time to walk her.

From the time I got her until the very end, we were doing on average two miles a day. I took her to the woods, and she joined me in everything I did outside, as I found myself being more and more active. As a result, her life was extended well beyond the average lifespan to 17. My sister thinks she could have lived to 20 if not for the cancer. I dropped from 242 down to 220, and am sleeping much better. Our symbiosis has increased both of our lives in years and quality.

After we made the decision, I went on a two mile run. It was the first time I've run distance on my own. I figured if I could complete the run, I'd be better. I finished the run, but the goodbye was still very hard.

As I was running, I imagined her still setting the pace. I ran up a hill, and moved from beneath a street lamp's orange light into the dark street. I looked up and saw the belt of Orion, and Plieades shine through the night's dusky cloak, and remembered why I took up running in the first place.

Every step was made with purpose. Every breath, drawn with determination. Every movement made free from fear.

A few months ago when I was in the middle of triathlon training, Roxanne and I were out running. She just got back from the vet and had lost weight. I thought to her, "If I could give you my determination to live, we would both live forever."


Our final moments


How I'll always Remember You.


Thursday, November 5, 2009

The Symmetry of Water




Before I begin I'd like to give a couple of shoutouts.

First to A New Kind of Art by Josh Reeves. http://jreevesart.blogspot.com
He's a lanky-muppety sorta fellow who looks like Jim on the Office and plays drums like Wilco's Glenn Kotche
His art embodies sexy. You can see for yourself. (Also, I took the pictures he has up.)

Next: The Working Paper's by Micah Rains. http://micahrains.blogspot.com
I'm not jealous at all that he got to spend a month in India doing ministry. Not jealous whatsoever. No even in the slightest. Really, I'm not.

All right, now that's out of the way. I've found myself enthralled by the beauty of water. We live on a planet finely tuned to carry liquid water and thus support intelligent life, which not only allows me to take these pictures, but to appreciate the beauty of it.

Still water creates a perfect mirror. I think these are among the most beautiful pictures I've taken.

The lower pond of Juden Creek, lit in Autumn's blaze




These next three were taken at the Tree Farm
one of my favorite places on earth

Tree Farm at Twilight
(actual twilight, not those books and movies I've
neither viewed nor read)





The next four were taken at the Silver Mine over Labor Day, and with my Canon powershot





Cherokee Lagoon
(I've swam from one end to the other. I remember Bobby Brune got a leach.)



Scivally Bridge


Bollinger Mill



Cape County North

Here we are back at lower pond of Juden Creek
This was Summer

Same pond, at the start of Spring
Missouri's by no means known for beautiful, or even tasty water. Still, it has it's own subtle beauty nonetheless.

I was recently challenged to do something more with my photos, rather my ability to capture such images. I'd like to answer that challenge, though I'm not necessarily sure how to. But then if I did it wouldn't be a challenge.

We'll see what happens. I'm excited.