Extraordinary

Extraordinary

Been thinking about that word a lot recently.


Did you happen to see Sarah Horn get invited on stage at the Hollywood Bowl to sing a duet with Kristin Chenowith and sing "For Good" from the musical "Wicked"?
Here's the link for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S8Cn2FmqxQ
Turns out there were about 5 minutes of "Extraordinary" there.


Did you hear about Lindsay Vollmer, a track and field athlete from the University of Kansas? Her event is the women's pentathlon, 7 events over 2 days. She won the NCAA championship in her event this last spring. Noteworthy, even by itself, that she won, but, to me, what was remarkable was how she did it. She recorded a personal best in 6 out of the 7 events. http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?video_id=91381-Lindsay-Vollmer-1st-Women-039-s-Hep-Final-NCAA-DI-Outdoor-Championships-2013
Unreal! I'd call that "Extraordinary"!


How about Dr Sandy Billinger? She and her son walked, yes walked, across the entire state of Kansas this year. Why? To raise funds to buy equipment to do research on strokes. Why? Because she thought it was important. Real important. 23 days and 570 miles worth of important.
http://ptrs.kumc.edu/walk-across-kansas/#.UiZXoCco6M8
The passion she has is extraordinary, don't you think?


Then there's Bob Leong.(aka BobSkoot) He's a motorcyclist and a  blogger from Vancouver BC that I'm acquainted with. He just recently and safely completed a motorcycle trip across the continent and back this summer. It was a longtime dream of his. Almost a bucket list sort of  thing for him. He's in his 60's, but that didn't stop him, or even remotely slow him down. Decidedly Extraordinary.


And just a few years ago, another blogger that I am acquainted with, Gary France, from England also did a motorcycle odyssey across America. Something he also had always wanted to do. He made it happen! Here's a link to the book he wrote about it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/6163210824/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1372218291&sr=8-2&pi=SL75


All, Very, Very Extraordinary!


How fun it would be to do something extraordinary. Makes me want to do something. I've thought about many possibilities.

What do you consider to be extraordinary?

Running a marathon?
Bike Across Kansas (the pedaled kind of bike)
A long scooter or motorcycle trip?
A long hike? What about the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage in France and Spain.
Something physical? Maybe, maybe not.
Something with the family? Or by myself?


Then again, I know some extraordinary things have already happened in my own life.
In 1974, at the Kansas Relays, i narrowly missed clearing 14 feet in the high school pole vault. (Okay, that was a really long time ago, and probably not extraordinary, but certainly different)
I survived a type of cardiac arrest with only a 5% survival rate. (Not wanting to repeat this)
I used to own a VW Bus. (Okay, maybe that doesn't qualify as extraordinary)

but.....
I married someone absolutely extraordinary.
& I've got 2 extraordinary children.

The point is, I think that perhaps we are all surrounded by "extraordinary" and just don't always notice it.


Maybe it is time to open up those eyes and really look around.


What do you see?

Ride On and Carpe Diem, my friends!

A Word of Caution, Long Shadows

Oh, that sun, this time of year, on that morning commute, is pretty low in the sky.

If you travel west in the morning, like I do, then the sun isn't in your eyes, but it still can be a problem because those traveling east have to look at the low sun and they might not be able to see you.

Long Shadows in the morning

Ride On and Carpe Diem, my friends.