There are people in this world who make such an impact on your soul that you are forever changed because of them. My Grandpo is one of those people.
Gentle, kind, warm, inspiring. He was the first truly amazing role model I had in my life, and that lasted his whole life... he was a scholar (a rarity in Latinos of his era), a family man, an athlete... he was creative (he built his house almost from scratch!), artistic (photography is the other great gift that he gave to me)... spiritual... humble. He was all that I wanted to be... all that I want my kids to be!
In a time when physical fitness was not the norm, he was out there running, 10 miles a day, every day of his life. He ran marathons until Alzheimer's no longer allowed him to run. He pushed his grandchildren to be more active. I posted this waaaaaaaay back when about my first 'fun run':
Let me preface this by saying that my Grandpo was an amazing runner... he ran until he was physically unable to do so at the age of 75. He encouraged all of us to do the same... and I miss him every single day.I was a chubby child... a harbinger of things to come, I suppose. My Grandpo was determined to 'fix' that. So one lovely Saturday morning (a typical Albuquerque summer day), he picked up me and my brother (an equally chubby child) up for some 'fun'. It was Grandpo, so we thought- hey! A movie... maybe the zoo... ooh, maybe Uncle Cliff's (a local amusement park)...Har-de-har-har... what we did was go downtown for a run. No, not to WATCH, but to run. I don't think I had ever run further than from the living room to the kitchen for some fresh tortillas... I remember it vividly (in technicolor!)... the sights, smells, sounds. It was a one mile 'fun' run. I thought I was going to die. That mile seemed to stretch out to forever. Why, God, why? My Grandpo loved me! This wasn't 'fun', this was hell!And then I crossed the finish line... I remember getting a medal, and the smile on my Grandpo's face... and then and there an addiction was born. I haven't always nourished that addiction, but like a silent flame, it's burned on in my heart since that day. For me, it's how I keep my much loved, and much missed Grandpo alive. That flame. So, while my first run wasn't much 'fun', most of my runs since have been.
I still think of that run. Often. It's been 22 months since I took that fateful first run after allowing myself to get fat. 22 months, and I will never stop. This time next year, it will be 32 months... and so on and so on. There are times when I feel like I am running in a shadow so large I will never be able to cast a shadow of my own. How will I ever be as amazing as my Grandpo was?
Last weekend, my daughter ran in the pumpkin fun run. She finished first of all girls. FIRST. And when she finished, she and I stood at the finish line and cheered the other runners in... and when it was all said and done she said 'mommy, now I'm a real runner like you.'
Like me? Me?? All I've ever wanted to be is a real runner like my Grandpo.... and here's my six-year old sweetheart telling me that she's a real runner like me
Maybe that shadow wasn't ever meant to keep me running in the darkness... maybe, just maybe it was meant to help me cast a bigger shadow for my kids... so that they can cast an even bigger shadow for their kids. Maybe someday, Bella's kids will say 'I want to be a real runner like Grandma Alicia'. (yikes, that was scary to type... but I digress.)
I love you Grandpo. You were my idol then. You're my idol now. And next week, you will be running with me- close to my heart, as always.
