A Weekend Trip

Sorry little blog, I haven't been very good at keeping up lately.  There are lot's and lot's of things to catch up on, but for today I'll focus on what's been going on recently.

***side note- I started writing this blog entry on the 12th of November, I finally finished it.

So for those of you who don't know we lost a sweet, smart, incredibly funny, tenacious, friend on Halloween.  Vashni fought valiantly against a cancer that she had beaten once, but could not overcome the second time around.  Vashni was someone who I got to know through a friend, so she was really a friend of a friend....until she was just a friend.  I'm sad I didn't get to know her even better.  Her amazing spirit was evident in the budding of our friendship, and then she moved to the D.C. area for job stuff.  I caught up with her via her blog.  Let me tell you...that girl could write!  She started her blog about being a step mom, that turned into a blog about her fight with cancer.  She was so amazing and she touched so many people's lives.  It was clear how many by the number of people who came to her memorial service last weekend.  To be sure there were many tears shed, but there was also laughter as we remember her quirky traits and happy attitude.  I feel sick that this sweet soul is not in this world to amaze us anymore, but I know that she is up there sending rays of sunshine down to us.  I know I have a guardian angel looking over me.

Jenn and Vashni after Chicago Tri

So last Saturday I rode up to the DC area with my friend Jenn to hang out with our other friend Krista, before going up to PA for the service on Sunday.  OMG- time flies.  I haven't seen Krista (in person) in YEARS!!  What??  Thank you facebook for letting the world keep in touch, but really??  I think it was like 6 years!  Krista, Jenn and I all did Team in Training (I know you notice a theme in my life), the second Azalea festival Sprint Tri Season (for me).  I felt an almost instant bond with these chicas and I'm so happy to still have them in my life.  Not only were we all embarking on more endurance craziness....we were (at the time) all like minded.  None of us were planning on having kids.  Since then things have changes....as things do.  Jenn and I have stuck with the plan (*winks*), Krista on the other hand and pull for wanting little ones.  She has a 4 year old boy who is the sweetest, a 7 month old little girl, and one in the oven.  Yup....things change.

When we got to DC, after my horrible navigating around the beltway and made it safely to Krista's place.  The kids were left with their dad and we headed out for a Girls Night Out!!  We had a fun time at Cadillac Ranch, where the girls surprised me with a little birthday fun.

After Mayo Lake Tri

We slept on air mattress that night....or rather I slept on an air mattress and Jenn started on an air matteress that was on it's last leg and ended up on the couch.  Neither one of us got much sleep.  To much on our minds.  So we both just tried to let our bodies lie still so at least some part of us was somewhat rested.  When we got up , we started folding up our sheets etc and working on putting away our sleeping arrangements when the 4 year old came charging out of his room (when his clock turned green) to ask us if we wanted to see his room, and talk and talk and talk.  I think they told him he couldn't come out of his room until the clock turned green (some nifty clock...and a system I think all parents should use).  He was so happy to have a captive audience that he about showed us everything in his room.  It was so cute.  Then Jenn and I took sweet Maggie (the dog) out for a long walk.  It was both for us and for her.  After a fab breakfast that was cooked by Krista and some Wii gaming, (I'm happy to say that I just barely beat the 4 year old.  *winks*) we headed out to PA.

Beautiful Vashni.

The drive back was a little somber.  Mostly because we were drained.  We stopped and changed into comfy clothes after the celebration of life, and drove on.  Well to be fair Jenn drove on.  Jenn drove up, and Jenn drove back.  Jenn got a new car 4 days before the trip.  It was a nice ride, but a little hard on the driver.  Lot's and lot's of driving.  We got "comfort" food on the way back (milkshakes and tuna melts).  We kept each other awake....sorta.  We made it to my home, and Jenn eventually made it back to her home.

Not exactly how I would of wanted to spend my birthday weekend, but at the same time I wouldn't of wanted to not be there to remember the sweetest soul.

Jenn and I at the Turkey
Trot, with Vashni shining
down on us.

I will think of sweet, funny, intelligent, AMAZING, Vashni as the sun shines down on me.  I know that she would not want us to dwell on the loss of her human body.  I'll think of her sending her love and encouragement.....I know I have a guardian angel watching over me.