Gwen in Action!

I have a pretty amazing and brave DIY mom and dad. Today is about describing Gwenny T as I like to call her and how she has filled the role of mom.

She would not describe herself as an athlete but she is. She grew up in Dearborn and loved to pretend she was a cow girl, giddyaping around the neighborhood. You could say she grew up in the city. She did not play organized sports as a kiddo. Her family would vacation in the ubiquitous up north (For non-native Michiganders this term refers to the top half if the lower peninsula of the Mitten state!) ( and yes Wisconsin meisters Michigan IS THE high five of America!) My mom went all "Green Acres" and moved to a rural place when she married my dad. They eventually built a house on Oxbow Lake in White Lake, Michigan. Here the water skiing, swimming, ice skating, sailing and sledding began!

Then I showed up in 1976 with a serious penchant for being outside and we begun a lifetime of trying new things together. My parentals started my splashing in the water at the age of 2, and my mom would always join in a swim , with sunglasses and the rule of not getting her hair wet. My parents taught me to water ski and fish and handle a wee sail boat. I started playing softball at the age of five. And they never said "no" to trying out a new sport or activity.

My mom has a deep passion for being outside. She has landscaped a lakefront acre of yard for 50 years. She is a flora whisperer and is very creative with her yardly endeavors.

She bowls and golfs and walks and does exercise DVD's and even works out with me online.

I admire her lifelong commitment to taking care of her body. And she never bawks at trying new things!

I shall not reveal her age BUT she was a teenager at a time when you wore gloves on fancy days. And full on dresses and girdles even though you only weighed 118 pounds to high school every day!

Did I mention this lady rollerblades, lifts weights, does 5k's, loves yoga and her bicycle?

I too have tried many sports and taken on many physical feats, and much of that motivation and desire comes from having a mom, an example of its okay to try, an example of it's okay to sample. I have been so proud of seeing her fearlessly go forth and experience so many things, even this year!

She has probably been to 10,000 games and events dutifully cheering me on from little kid softball to collegiate regattas to trialthons and also my first marathon!

Seeing her face and hearing "Go Beth!" Always fires me up!

Thank you, Mom! You have been an amazing, healthy example of taking care of your temple and also a steady cheering section my whole athletic life. For this, I am grateful. This is only one area of life in which you inspire me! Happy Mother's Day!