Three-Legged Race
When I was a kid, I remember eagerly looking forward to the annual neighborhood summer picnics near my grandparent's house. The whole community from around the lake seemed to be there. It was like a family reunion, but everyone's families were there.
After you had your portion of burgers and hot dogs on the grill and soda from the tap, the games would begin! The field races were first, then the swim races in the lake. I was no athlete but that didn't stop me from giving it try. The top 3 winners got a ribbon with their name scribbled on it. That was enough to motivate me! Sign me up!
The potato sack race was one of my favorites. Just you and a bag. The challenging game for me was always the three-legged race, mostly, because I couldn't do it alone. I had to partner with my older sister, who is naturally stronger and more agile than I. As we tied the ropes around our legs, I knew my life was in her hands. She was always a determined girl. Strong and focused. Truly, a get-it-done, no-one-can-stop-me kind of personality. Admirable traits. But I can't say I mirrored that as a kid. I was the more cautious, gentler, and clumsy type.
"On your mark, get set, GO!" the announcer would yell.
The race began and so did our eternal journey to the finish line. My sister took off like a race horse, seeming to forget that I was attached to her body. I tried to get in tempo with her pace, but her legs seemed to stretch farther and move faster than mine.
"COME ON, VALERIE!" she yelled, dragging me every inch of the way.
"I'M TRYING!" I yelled back, as I fumbled and tripped, trying desperately to keep up with her. We just could not find our rhythm and I could barely catch my breath.
As I looked around, I watched in amazement as other partners moved effortlessly passed us. They looked experienced and skilled. "How do they do that?" I thought, as I suddenly felt myself twist and hurl to the ground.
"Oh Gosh, Valerie! Stand up! We're never gonna win." my sister snapped. "Look people are already crossing the finish line!"
I wanted to win as much as she did. But, it hardly seemed possible. It almost seemed better to just untie the rope on our legs and just let her run to the finish line herself. But, of course, the rules wouldn't declare her a winner unless she had her partner with her. Together we lose, together we win. Either way, we were tied together.
After you had your portion of burgers and hot dogs on the grill and soda from the tap, the games would begin! The field races were first, then the swim races in the lake. I was no athlete but that didn't stop me from giving it try. The top 3 winners got a ribbon with their name scribbled on it. That was enough to motivate me! Sign me up!
The potato sack race was one of my favorites. Just you and a bag. The challenging game for me was always the three-legged race, mostly, because I couldn't do it alone. I had to partner with my older sister, who is naturally stronger and more agile than I. As we tied the ropes around our legs, I knew my life was in her hands. She was always a determined girl. Strong and focused. Truly, a get-it-done, no-one-can-stop-me kind of personality. Admirable traits. But I can't say I mirrored that as a kid. I was the more cautious, gentler, and clumsy type.
"On your mark, get set, GO!" the announcer would yell.
The race began and so did our eternal journey to the finish line. My sister took off like a race horse, seeming to forget that I was attached to her body. I tried to get in tempo with her pace, but her legs seemed to stretch farther and move faster than mine.
"COME ON, VALERIE!" she yelled, dragging me every inch of the way.
"I'M TRYING!" I yelled back, as I fumbled and tripped, trying desperately to keep up with her. We just could not find our rhythm and I could barely catch my breath.
As I looked around, I watched in amazement as other partners moved effortlessly passed us. They looked experienced and skilled. "How do they do that?" I thought, as I suddenly felt myself twist and hurl to the ground.
"Oh Gosh, Valerie! Stand up! We're never gonna win." my sister snapped. "Look people are already crossing the finish line!"
When
I was a kid, I remember eagerly looking forward to the annual
neighborhood summer picnics near my grandparent's house. The
whole community from around the lake seemed to be there. It was like
a family reunion, but everyone's families were there.
After
you had your portion of burgers and hot dogs on the grill and soda
from the tap, the games would begin! The field races were first, then
the swim races in the lake. I was no athlete but that didn't stop me
from giving it try. The top 3 winners got a ribbon with their name
scribbled on it. That was enough to motivate me! Sign me up!
The
potato sack race was one of my favorites. Just you and a bag. The
challenging game for me was always the three-legged race, mostly,
because I couldn't do it alone. I had to partner with my older
sister, who is naturally stronger and more agile than I.
As
we tied the ropes around our legs, I knew my life was in her hands.
She was always a determined girl. Strong and focused. Truly, a
get-it-done, no-one-can-stop-me kind of personality. Admirable
traits. But I can't say I mirrored that as a kid. I was the more
cautious, gentler, and clumsy type.
"On
your mark, get set, GO!" the announcer would yell.
The
race began and so did our eternal journey to the finish line. My
sister took off like a race horse, seeming to forget that I was
attached to her body. I tried to get in tempo with her pace, but her
legs seemed to stretch farther and move faster than mine.
"COME
ON, VALERIE!" she yelled, dragging me every inch of the way.
"I'M
TRYING, KIRSTEN!" I yelled back, as I fumbled and tripped,
trying desperately to keep up with her. We just could not find our
rhythm and I could barely catch my breath.
As
I looked around, I watched in amazement as other partners moved
effortlessly passed us. They looked experienced and skilled. "How
do they do that?" I thought, as I suddenly felt myself twist and
hurl to the ground.
"Oh
Gosh, Valerie! Stand up! We're never gonna win." my sister
snapped. "Look people are already crossing the finish line!"
I
wanted to win as much as she did. But, it hardly seemed possible. It
almost seemed better to just untie the rope on our legs and just let
her run to the finish line herself. But, of course, the rules
wouldn't declare her a winner unless she had her partner with her.
Together we lose, together we win. Either way, we were tied together.
I'm
running a new three-legged race now with a partner that I tied the
knot with almost 18 years ago - my husband Bryan. Some days, it feels
much like the race with my sister. A tugging. A pulling. A wanting to
work together, but not jiving with each other's pace or rhythm.
Having the same goal, but being unable to get there. Sometimes, it's
me dragging him and demanding him to keep up. Other days, it's him
wondering if I even have the strength or endurance to make it to
the finish line. In all of it though, there's one thing we both know
for sure. We're not going to cross the finish line without each
other. We made a promise to keep that knot tied, and we're not going
to break it. Together we lose, together we win. Either way, we are
tied together.
I wanted to win as much as she did. But, it hardly seemed possible. It almost seemed better to just untie the rope on our legs and just let her run to the finish line herself. But, of course, the rules wouldn't declare her a winner unless she had her partner with her. Together we lose, together we win. Either way, we were tied together.
***
I'm running a new three-legged race now with a partner that I tied the knot with almost 18 years ago - my husband Bryan. Some days, it feels much like the race with my sister. A tugging. A pulling. A wanting to work together, but not jiving with each other's pace or rhythm. Having the same goal, but being unable to get there. Sometimes, it's me dragging him and demanding him to keep up. Other days, it's him wondering if I even have the strength or endurance to make it to the finish line. In all of it though, there's one thing we both know for sure. We're not going to cross the finish line without each other. We made a promise to keep that knot tied, and we're not going to break it. Together we lose, together we win. Either way, we are tied together. 
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