Ahh.  The good old days.  I went to prom in 1995.  I had an after Prom party.  Actually, I had THE after Prom party.  You know the kind of party that is at the climax of any John Hughes film.  Anyway, it was the first time I drank, the first time I smoked a cigarette, the first time..Well lets just say it was a night of firsts.  Of course my parents found out it and my summer before college, known as the ” last summer” was ruined; it was still worth it. 

   On Friday, a teacher that I work with told me about her 16 year old daughter who was going to GBN’s Prom.  Her daughter was going to an after party in Lake Geneva that would be chaperoned by 4 sets of parents.  The only reason why she was telling me this is because the 4 sets of parents were making all the other peoples ( party-goers) parents sign a Rider!  Can you believe it?  A 7 page rider.  In a nutshell, it stated that if there is a death, injury or harm to your child, you are giving up any right to sue us for wrongful death, involuntary manslaughter etc etc. 

    We all know that there is a lot of drinking and smoking and all other things going on at Prom.  But to readily assume that there will be a death is , well kind of morbid.  Even more morbid is to state that in no way are the parents at the party liable.  What if one of the parents is like Stifler’s mom?  What if a Dad gets wasted, chokes and kills someone for no reason?  Is he not at fault because of this rider?  My friend the teacher signed the rider.  Not because  she agreed with it at all, but because she wanted to make her daughter happy.  Because she knew that not signing it would have ostracized her daughter from her friends.  Maybe, because she knew that a rider couldn’t keep anyone from being at fault.

Last week was a bright week in my life. Not because of the weather. Not because I had won the lotto. I did and it was a scratch off, but that is not what had me giddy all last week. You see it all started on Sunday. Mother’s Day. The Bulls pulled out a victory over the dirty Detroit Pistons. A glimmer of hope shone on an otherwise drury day with the family. Then on Tuesday, in Detroit, they beat the Pistons,again. Every where you could feel the excitement building. On sports center you would hear it said over and over again. ” The bulls are half way to history” No team in NBA history had ever come back from a 3-0 deficeit. But I believed. I always believed. I like seeing the impossible happen. Especially in sports. I have no love for the Boston Red Sox, but when they started to make a comeback, I was glued to the television. I, and every other sports fan, wants to see the impossible. The truly magnificent. To see it live and in person, so we can give details to our great grand children. I can smile and say, ” I stayed up until 1am in the morning to see the grand slam hit in the White Sox World Series. I can say that I lost my voice when Michael Jordan ( who fouled the Utah Jazz) shot that last shoot and win the 6th NBA champoinship. I watched as a mourning Brett Farve completed 399 yards in a single half after his father’s death. I saw William ” the Fridge” Perry score a defensive touch down in the Super Bowl. All I wanted was to see this happen. Maybe I have been spoiled. Maybe, I have to be like everyone else and wait until next year.

Motivated to lose a few pounds, and more importantly (kind of) to get in great shape, two friends and I decided to challenge ourselves. No, we’re not hedging bets on weight loss, or who can withstand Double Stuffed Oreos the longest. We took it up a notch and registered to compete (and I say this very lightly) in the Danskin Sprint Triathlon this July.

No, I am not an athlete. No, I have never raced before. Yes, I do work out – basic elliptical machine and treadmill ….and Yes, I am crazy. It sounded like such a good idea at first. However now, in the heat of training time, I am terrified of drowning and want nothing but cookie dough for breakfast.

With six weeks left, it’s sink or swim time. Literally.

Friend 1 and I have been running together for quite some time ~ so it’s not the run that concerns me. Friend 1 was a swimmer in high school. Friend 2 doesn’t run, but is a swim coach at Midtown Athletic Club in Bannockburn.  And then there’s me. I got my Red Cross swimming certificate in second grade and that’s as far as I went. I can swim, but a 1/2 mile in a lake with creatures? No floatation devices and no ropes to hold. No stopping for a moment when I get tired…I’ll be out of the water just as they’re driving home!

As I said, it was a good idea at first. I got in the water a month ago, and began to build some endurance. Unfortunately, life got in the way, and I went back in today after 3 weeks of being on dry land. I met Friend 2 ~ (water girl, although amongst friends we call her something much more nasty  because we’re jealous and because of her amazing water prowess and motivation) ~ at 9 a.m. today. She is quite the tough cookie, and I found out I’m doing my breast stroke incorrectly and I’m breathing improperly during freestyle. She says I can do it. Hmm.  I have six whole weeks left. Can I?

I really don’t have much of a choice here. I’ve told way too many people that I’m triathloning to back out now. In fact, I’ve even suggested the promise of a party at my house afterward to celebrate. The worst part is that my darling daughter has informed her friends, so mothers everywhere in uptown Lake Forest are asking me about it at the Jewel, the bookstore and at Starbucks. If nothing else, I have to finish this race to save face.

The thing that gets me the most is that I REALLY MAY SINK. I may get kicked in the face, lost under agile and more competitive arms and legs, and drive all the way to Pleasant Prairie, WI only to get disqualified and end up at the outlets. Now that is not a bad alternative.  All kidding aside, I am quite nervous about the swim part, but know that if I think I can, I can - if I think I can’t, I won’t.

I apologize for the little engine that could reference, but truly, I believe in mind over matter and I believe in positive thinking. What better example to give to my children - to commit and follow through, to overcome an obstacle, to practice and then improve. As I type, I’m getting more excited. I will swim the 1/2 mile, I will ride and run and finish this race. I will feel mentally invigorated and physically exhausted on July 8th. I will not sink, I will swim (and I will not drown - right?)