Twenty days ago, I was in LA at my childhood home, stuffing summer sleeping bags and borrowed pillows into my VW Camper Van, preparing for a 4 day trip in Arizona. My refrigerator was nice and cold, and my cupboard was filled with the basics for cooking my meals on my propane stove: oatmeal, lentil soup, the makings for fajitas.
My vanity cupboard held key to my outback hygiene, as well as my emergency supplies and mosquito repellent. I had Bob Dylan loaded into the CD player, Jack Kerouac on my Kindle, and three days of anticipatory hair growth on my legs and armpits.
On the first day, I drove seven straight hours through the desert to John Ball’s front door. An appointment in some kind of chaotic wellness-haven ensued, led by a curly haired, sarcastic chiropractor barely older than me. Within 20 minutes, I decided this was it, and I wasn’t leaving Phoenix until I was completely healed and training well.
Now I fricken hate Phoenix and the massive sprawl of part-time inhabitants and carbon copy strip malls (or at least I thought I did) so I didn’t know what I would do with myself, but two college teammates were in town and there was a spare bed for a couple nights. I’d figure it out as I went along.
Since then, I’ve stayed in three other condos thanks to the kindness of others and the willingness to sleep anywhere (literally). I’ve only stayed in the van two nights, one of which was particularly memorable, and I have had an absolutely brilliant time while returning to health. The past three days have been the best of all because I’ve been able to train like a real runner, and every single part of my body is sore (but good sore) as a result (after 14 weeks, your body forgets what pounding is all about).
You absolutely HAVE to read this account of my latest living situation written by Malindi. I couldn’t have said it better, so I’ll just refer you to her entry. Warning: You might want to pee first so you don’t go in your pants.
I really admire how you’re following your heart in terms of your injury instead of sticking to some prescribed plan rigidly. I’m excited to see what will be on ALF.com next.
That link was great Lauren. No wonder I haven’t seen you lately!
“Apparently an uppidity Scottsdale oldie had reported a “crazy homeless woman living in her van” on our street.”
Hahaha, awesome. So glad to hear you’re training again; it really does feel great when you can get back into it!
Great stories, always. Must be something about distance runners because we have the whackiest, pee-in-your-pants stories ever. You are a fantastic writer, so you make stories even funnier.
Hi Terri! I so love series! I think its too because I get to re-visit with the characters! I love the DEADLY series by Brenda Joyce! It was a long wait til the recent one so I’m re-reading them to soon read the re-release! I do follow alot of series and always asking if books are in series or connected. I think too because I don’t want to miss their stories but too when I read other characters in the books, I want to know about their HEA too! Oh another recent series that had a book out, Christina Dodd’s Governess. A favorite series too! Too many I enjoy!