Lest you readers think I'm an exaggerator (well I CAN be, but in this case no)…let me share a little history. I have lived 37 years on this planet and officially passed out 1 time. And almost passed out 2 times that I can recall. Add this morning and make that 3 times.
The only time I ever officially passed out was Thanksgiving weekend when I was in 11th grade. My brother and I drove to Tupelo to get our Paw Paw and drive to the cousins house in Bartlesville Oklahoma. The time was fun but from what I can recall early mornings with big breakfast and late nights doin a bunch of randomness with the cousins and their church friends. And benadryl…lots of benadryl. I'm allergic to anything with fur. And the cousins had animals with fur.
Sooo add all that up and factor in getting up at seriously like 430 or 5 am to drive back to Tupelo this chick was tired.
We drove through arkansas and I remember taking an earlier shift driving. I recall eating a couple of handfuls of cheerios in the backseat of the little blue car and being so past hungry when we got to a Mickey D's. I remember ordering as I literally leaned on the counter. And closing my eyes for a second. Next thing I know the lady has my food and holding out her hand for my money. I picked up my tray and turned to look for seating for the three of us. (The others were ordering). I remember seeing a table with some nuns in dark green habits and thinking- I just have to make it to that table over by them and I will be okay. Yeaaaah. As I finished this thought in my head I saw my tray drop out of my left hand, food sliding down off the tray onto the floor. Cut to me looking up at the ceiling and my brother looking down at me saying something along the lines of "are you okay?"
Yep. Passed out in McDonalds. On Thanksgiving weekend. Full house. Lots of drama. And my takeaway from this? Being irritated because my brother took my remaining cash and bought a second lunch. Dude the sweet manager coulda spotted me for a free second burger. And the fact that my aunt was convinced I was anorexic. This thought was established in her head because I don't eat a pound of food at 7 am and can't eat dessert right after a full meal. A. Not a big eater right after I get up. I gotta warm up to the day. B. This branch of Longests eat dessert…about 30 min to an hour after dinner. More room ;). Now add in this Mc Donalds event, my cousins told me later my aunt was sure her theory was correct. To this day I feel compelled to finish whatever is on my plate whenever she is around. I order carefully when eating out because I can rarely finish a whole meal when eating out. Haha
One of the times I almost passed out was at Six Flags in August waiting in line for the mind bender. Hot. hungry. The blackness drawing in. I literally sat down in the line and announced lunch and water was next on the agenda. Crisis averted. And thank goodness because this was the first family outing with Dad's new girlfriend who is now my stepmom Barbara. So glad that pass out at Six Flags drama was avoided.
Which brings me to my run this morning. Doing fine. 15 minutes into a 40 minute run. The lightheaded squirrely headed feeling hit. I'm fixin to go down. So I feebly stepped over to the shade. Laid down in the grass of the back 40 of the Porter compound while my ipod played "Shout to the Lord" and thought- "well, if my brain or heart exploded right now…this aint a bad way to go-listenin to shout to the Lord and lookin at the trees and sky on a beautiful day."
I'm still here. Heart beating, blood flowing, vessels intact, and still wondering why oh why did I start this running thing?
But grateful for the opportunities to use what I got. And enjoy what God gave me. But if I don't reply to calls or texts in a timely fashion it might be cause I'm napping (read passed out) out on the trail behind the cabin, so take a look for my crazy self laid out in the yard.
Happy sunday. Use what you got. Enjoy what God gave you. Especially on a day like today.
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