Posts
Sept 12, 2001, I had a right temporal lobectomy; the right temporal lobe is mainly involved in visual memory (i.e., memory for pictures and faces) -- funny since I was able to pick out Aron and Alisa from a crowd of thousands at the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco, from only seeing their pictures on their blog!
Once I returned to work post-surgery, I had a built in excuse. Didn't know an answer to something? Sorry, that info must have been taken out during surgery! Hey, if I can't laugh about it, who can?! Works like a charm too, cuz no one knows how to respond! :)
It was supposed to go something like this: 3x75m back, breast then freestyle. After each 75m set, 25m following the same pattern as above. After each 100m set, 15 seconds rest. Leave on the red top. Once that one was done, 20x25 freestyle one way, choice back. 45 sec sets; rest at the wall if you make it before the 45. After 10 sets, rest for 30 seconds. 5 second intervals between swimmers, leave on the blue top. Rest 1min 30 sec. Follow that with 500m freestyle.
WHOA... hello! Half a brain here (of course, not really, but it's fun to say...)! I have a hard enough time with moving arms, legs, staying afloat, remembering to breathe and concentrating on my form, now I have to do math and keep track and follow a clock with 4 arms, each a different color?!
Even though math, counting, multitasking or keeping track are not listed as the right temporal lobe functions, I'm still using it as my excuse lol.
Thankfully coach has quickly assessed my swimming and put me in a lane that seems to be speed appropriate, lane 3 of 5. Just like running, comfortably mid-packer. So after being told the drills, the 6 of us in the lane all decide an order based on stroke, strengths and weaknesses. When one girl asked me if I wanted to go ahead of her since I'm usually just at her toes, I shook my head no, and told her that it wouldn't be in mine or their best interest if I was first and left in charge of the counting and keeping track... I happily followed the others ;)
Coach gave me a thumbs up after our swim... sometimes it's the small things that mean the most!
*************
Today would have been Terron's dad's 35th birthday. Almost 3 months after his passing, it's still weird to have gone from being a single parent to Terron's only parent. At his request, we stopped to pick up a happy birthday balloon and he wrote a letter to his dad before we headed to the cemetery. He left the letter in one of the bouquet of flowers someone else has left, and let the balloon go into the air, which he watched until he could no longer see it. speechless.
26 comments:
You are amazing. Thanks for your positive attitude!
I hope Terron is doing all right.
Warmest,
Cami
Mel, what a sweet boy. I hope you are both having a good day, remembering the good times. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, Terron is so lucky to have you.
LOL, I'd definitely be using that excuse if I could! Math while running - not so good. I can imagine swimming is even more difficult based on that workout!
Glad you were able to take T to visit his Dad. He's such a great kid!
Holy cow! That's a lot to remember, especially while swimming. I always used to lose track of where I was in anything over 100m. I could never remember all that.
And, what a sweet son you have. Such a touching thing to do. Left me smiling. :)
GOSH, well for what it is worth, I keep forgetting about 9/12/01. Now, what the heck is MY excuse for being forgetful. I can remember faces, but names......not so much.
Your last paragraph is very pertinent during the thanksgiving season.
Love the photo of Terron. He seems like such a sweetheart. His smile is priceless -- he obviously has a wonderful mommy.
Terron is such a sweet boy.
I could not do that math. Heck, I can barely manage minimal math when running.
You lost me somewhere around "3x75m"... and I have no excuse!
How sweet of Terron to think of such nice thing to do for his dad on what would have been his birthday.
You are an awesome Mom!
Me, running and math just don't mix. I can barely keep count of mileage.
Terron is a great young man.
I'm good in math, terrible in swimming, and average in running. Just thought I'd say that. You are a wonderful woman and an inspiration to me and I'm sure everyone else who knows you. It appears that any setback you encounter just makes you stronger in the long run. Terron is fortunate to have as wonderful a mom as you. Hugs to you and him.
I'm bad at math and swimming, so I never would have survived that!
You are such a great mom to Terron.
I say milk the excuse as often and for as long as you can. I do the same thing with international travel -- Hey, ya' know, I usually know that (or can do that), but this jetlag, it's really bothering me. Problem is, after 3 months, I get these really funny looks like they aren't buying it or something. Go figure!
I'd be the same with the swim instructions, I can't keep track of that stuff either, can't we just go back and forth until we can't any more??!!!
Wishes for Terron and you to heal soon for your loss.
what a sweet picture of terron! i hope he is doing well. i'm sure the upcoming holidays will be tough as well, but i know you will both hang in there. you guys are strong and courageous!
lol about your brain excuses - i would soo be doing the same. :) and uh, that swim math... yeah brain op or not, i wouldn't be able to remember it!! i can hardly count 4x800, lol ;)
I always lose count in the water too and never had surgery so don't feel so bad :) You are lucky to have someone that could count for you.
And Terron is lucky to have you as an understanding, sweet and strong mother!
I could never do math and I have a full brain. Hm. That's kind of sad actually.
I am sending some love and cheer to Terron. I know how hard it is to lose a dad.
I lose count in the pool also!
Hugs to Terron.
yeah, great blog posting.
uhm, half a brain crack - LOL. Sometimes I'd like to use that one, but I killed off my brain cells one by one partying. So that doesn't really count.
The things you do are amazing - don't ever stop doing what you do!
Terron is a pretty amazing kid. And I can see why - he has such a great role model of a mom! :)
So glad you did pick me out of the crowd though!!!!!!
Great job with the swimming. I'm itching to join masters again but at the moment it's a little out of the price range =(.
You are an amazing parent, Terron is a lucky little guy!
I blame it on weak brain cells that are killed off by my drinking! Great job with everything that you're doing!
One would need an IQ of over 140 to remember this workout. You are perfectly normal, believe me. Great post.
Sweet Terron! Poor buddy. I just hate that for him, makes me cry.
Hell, milk the excuse, I would. I hate crazy ass swim workouts. Way to complicated when I'm hypoxic for crying out loud.
I would never be able to keep track in a pool, I would be too busy trying not to swallow water.
Amazing the smile on Terrons face, you are doing something right Mom!!
wow you have SUCH a sweet son, you are doing an amazing job with him :)
haha i still think its SO crazy we ran into each other that morning!!
i dont know how swimmers remember their workouts, they just sound so confusing to me!
Post a Comment