Missing Mottie

By and large, my training has been going very well. I have been tracking my progress with the help of my friends at Travis Cycle (Side Note: If you ever want to learn about cycling, or are interested in buying a bike, Mark Travis is the man to talk to. Don't let the unorthodox website fool you), and overall, I have been feeling great from a physical and mental standpoint.

Today, however, was tough. I walked into the living room and I saw the same indoor trainer, the same bike, the same seat, and I immediately felt exhausted. I was just not feeling it -- my legs were sore, and my stomach felt unsettled. It was just one of those days -- we've all been there.

I figured that I would hop on the bike and pedal my way through it. I started hammering away, but I continued to feel sluggish. I started watching tv as I rode, but that was not enough of a distraction to help me overcome the dreaded fatigue factor. I put on the "workout playlist" on my ipod in a desperate attempt to step things up. No luck -- nothing was working.

And then it dawned on me -- today is the one year anniversary of my Aunt Maude's death. Maude, or "Mottie," as she was affectionately known to me and my siblings, immediately became my source of inspiration. Mottie was more than my aunt. She was my Godmother, a friend, a confidant, and someone whom I could always rely on. She is one of the four "Farrell Sisters" that I am honoring in the cross country challenge.

As I continued to ride, I mentally brought myself back to all of the great times that I was fortunate enough to share with Mottie -- the movies at her house, the long talks about life, the "Tuesdays with Mottie," which represented the years worth of Tuesday nights that she spent babysitting us Hurley kids so that my parents could work nights and provide for us. I could go on forever.

As I remembered her, my sluggishness immediately vanished. In fact, I had the best bike workout to date. Even in death, Mottie, as usual, came through. There are times (READ: always) when I wish she was physically still with us, but I find great comfort in knowing that I can easily recall so many happy memories of a woman who was taken from this earth far too soon.

Although Mottie was on my mind a great deal today, especially because it marks the anniversary of her death, you can be sure that she is on my mind each and every day. I know that there are people out there (some who even follow this blog) that are in the same boat.

So, Mottie, if you're reading this from "upstairs," I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Not only for today, but for everything throughout my life. I love you dearly, and I miss you terribly. You can rest assured that I will complete my cross country challenge in your honor (and in honor of the rest of the beloved "Farrell Sisters"). I will not let you down -- how could I? Lord knows you never let me down.