I walked into the diner and I scanned the crowd wondering where to sit. I spotted the faux red leather booth, a little jarred that a large, burly, trucker-of-a-man sat opposite the booth I chose.  I asked the waitress for a high chair and began unpacking my large backpack, full of diapers, formula, snacks and toys for my 8-month-old son. As I unpacked, I kept my eye on the man sitting across from us. I noticed his dirty sweatpants, his large belly touching the booth table, his long white beard, and bitten fingernails. He was casually reading the paper and slurping coffee.

As I put my son in the high chair, the man looked over. He scanned my son, eyeing his little body up and down. My son waved his arms in the air and presented the man with a huge smile, showing off his newly acquired two bottom teeth. I continued to keep myself busy trying not to show any sort of engagement with this rough-looking person. I could feel the man looking over at us and I began to squirm a bit. Why was he looking at us? I was there by myself, waiting for my husband to finish a doctor’s appointment down the street. I was sitting in a dive diner with my 8-month-old son feeling incredibly vulnerable.

And then… I heard a chuckle. I looked over and the dirty, burly, large man was returning the smile to my son. He, too, was showing off his grin and his 5 broken teeth. I exhaled. My son was entertaining this stranger. He transformed a man, who I had already created a story about, into a carefree human being, laughing and playing peek-a-boo with an 8 month old. My son and this man continued their games of laughter and baby introductions.

He’s a big boy. Look’s like he’s gonna be a hockey player.

I smiled and and responded, “Yah, maybe!” As I said that, I scolded myself.

In the short 8 months that I have known my son I have come to realize that there is no place for judgment and yet I continue to judge. I believed I was protecting my son by creating an invisible fence around our booth. I was protecting him from the stranger sitting across from us. The stranger who I had already created a story about, it went something like this:

He probably lived in a run down home, maybe a hoarder, lonely, scary, yelled at small children as they walked in front of his home laughing on their scooters. He was definitely a smoker, maybe even a drinker. He was a truck driver and picked up hitchhikers along his routes, probably no, most likely, scaring them as well.

I had created this story in the span of one minute, and yet in the span of that one-minute my 8-month-old son had done the opposite. He didn’t create a story. He simply smiled at someone who was sitting across from him. He held no judgment. In fact, he doesn’t even know what the word judge means.

Fortunately, Jeff listened to his body. He read a ton of literature about the best ways to recover. He listened to podcasts. He printed off blog posts and medical opinions from authors and brought all of his research to his Naturopath weekly. Just as he was dedicated to his sport, he was dedicated (110%) to his recovery and well-being. It was a tough year for Jeff, but in the end I am so proud of what he has accomplished.

His first race was at the end of May at Shawnigan Lake. He wasn’t entirely pleased with the results, but this was his FIRST return to triathlon after more than a year off.  Fortunately he learned a lot from the May race and just this past weekend, he raced the Victoria Triathlon and placed third in his age group. Every time I saw him, coming out of the swim, transitioning to his bike, and on his half way point of the run he was smiling and confident. As a cheerleader, I was thrilled to see his strength and perseverance.

Coming out of the swim. Photo by Warren Beattie.

Jeff transitioning onto the bike. Photo by Warren Beattie.

The best part of that race day was seeing Jeff so happy with his final time. As an athlete, he constantly believes he can do better, so he isn’t always pleased with his results (no matter how hard the cheerleaders cheer him on). This race, he was pleased. He knew he had listened to his body and raced based on his heart rate.  Seeing his smiling face on the walk back to the car was the awesome and inspiring, a true testament to his dedication and willingness to never give up, no matter how many doctors tell you, you won’t be able to race again.

On the run, almost finished. Photo by Warren Beattie.

A friend of mine asked me to write a guest post on my yoga experience, from a pregnant perspective… you might like to check it out:

http://thechattyyogini.com/2012/04/10/guest-post-the-joys-of-prenatal-yoga/

the view from my weekend

The happiest moments my heart knows are those in which it is pouring forth its affections to a few esteemed characters.
– Thomas Jefferson

I spent the weekend with the following lovely ladies (Emily, Rhiannon, and Farley). It’s always bittersweet to end a weekend with such amazing women, but all the sweetness comes back when you relive the memories in photos and a few notes about what truly made the weekend heart felt, loving, hilarious, and fun-filled.

Top moments of Tofino 2011:

• The start of a roadtrip. Playlist made and picking girlfriends up at the ferry.
• The Coolidge girl’s drink a beer, eat an appetizer, and pay the bill in a total of 10 minutes.
• Arrival before sunset.
• Opening the first bottle of wine.
• Discovering the Say Yes to the Dress marathon on TLC.
• Giggling… constantly.
• Waking up to NO ALARM!
• Long walks on the beaches (seriously underrated)
• Walk to Lighthouse Point
• Run to Lighthouse Point
• Trying on wetsuits for the first time. Literally one of the funniest moments of my life.
• Listening to Emily tell our hot surf instructor why jellyfish can not sting the palm of your hand (nerd alert).
• Piper (the dog) on a surfboard.
• Seeing the awful photos taken from the beach by the official “photographer”. “Yah I would have bought those if you had actually made me look GOOD!”
• Apres surfing drinks.
• Lemon tarts from Sobo.
• Making admiration cards.
• Laughing constantly.
• Choco-Banana milkshake from Tacofino.
• Not having to say goodbye right away because they missed the ferry.

Short 20 minute yoga videos? Sign.me.up. (thanks C!)

I’m printing this out via Susannah Conway

My buddy Corinne’s fabulous blog- great photos and insights.

Hello paint by number! Love this idea and definitely going to give it a try. via Susannah Conway

The amazing power of being present.

Also, Jeff and I have decided to go off the grid this weekend, no phones and no computers. We wanted to escape to a B&B somewhere on the Island or off the Island, but it appears that spontaneity is dead. Everyone books way in advance. Who knew. So we are doing a little stay-cation, without gadgets. Just books, lounge chairs, the lake, paints, and music. Can.not.wait.

I wasn’t sure how the photos would turn out, but I was pleasantly surprised. I just love flowers in bloom.

And like any good Canadian, I returned home with the “essentials”

Here is a little glimpse of a Coolidge Thanksgiving in 1962 in Petersham, Massachusetts.

Thanksgiving 1962

This Love Thursday is dedicated to all of my American family and friends who are now eating Turkey, spending time together with family and friends, and giving thanks and gratitude.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful and grateful for:

• Good health
• A warm home while the snow is falling outside
• A loving partner to share life with (Jeff)
• Friendships new and old
• A job I really like!
• My immediate family (Dad, Mom, and Emily)
• Living by the ocean

Happy Thanksgiving!