COME ON AUGUST

I'm just not ready.

When did it get to be the end of August???

I am not ready to hand over my outdoor dinners

warm evenings

and favorite summer treats.

I know, that secretly, I am already beyond excited for fall. I have already begun playing out ridiculous Americana situations in my mind... like going to pumpkin farms and apple picking in tall rich leather boots, lightweight sweaters from an autumnal palette and fat effortlessly wrapped chunky knit scarves. (What...you don't dream according to outfit?) Regardless, I am literally trying to ignore all of my never ending usual daydreams of what is coming next- to try and revel in all the glory that is August...but I am still hoping that some of August's best qualities spill into September...come on, at least the first few weeks!

So for now, come on August, just stay with me a little longer. 

CHANNELING

In my last semester at FIT, we had to do an athletic collection. Surprise, surprise, I picked running. The concept was about using your frustrations, challenges, hard places in your life and literally- running them off. This was a concept I learned from one of my favorite coaches.

 

One of the best coaches I have ever had, Rick Baggett explained this concept to me my last year in high school. Rick was a great coach who ruled with love not fear, if we're applying the Machiavelli's theory. I've had coaches of all kinds; the ones that only point out what you're doing wrong, where it is that you're failing, only talking about what you can improve, change- coaches that told me I would never go anywhere athletically, raise their voice, make a scene or get so lost in their own power trip they forget their real purpose.

Rick was different, he never lost his cool and continually expected nothing but the best from you, which ultimately just made you work so hard to try and do just that- your best. 

Two distinct lessons stick out in my mind from Rick:

The first one was right when I had started coming to his track club out in Oregon City. Depending on traffic, it sometimes took over two hours just to drive there, for a two hour practice and then home again. One time, I was over 45 minutes late and I came running in apologizing about this and that and why I was late and how far away I lived waaah waaah. (Me? Late? Never.) Without any reprimanding or frustration, he calmly responded with, 

"It's no problem. A lot of these kids come from over two hours away every practice, and that's without traffic..." 

I was silenced.

He was a very well known coach, and I was underestimating how lucky I was to work with him, while clearly other people were not- coming from way out of town to reap the benefits of his coaching.

I have often thought of this interaction in my lifetime since, and have found it to very applicable to many situations that I have encountered.

The second lesson:

One time I came in to vault practice my senior year of high school and was already riled up and pissed off about God knows...could have been a number of ridiculous things. Regardless, I came into practice unfocused, consumed in my own issues and basically wallowing in my own self pity. 

On the verge of tears, Rick pulled me aside and very kindly said to me, that whatever it was that was happening in my life that was difficult, to just leave it there. To focus so directly on channeling all of that horrible shit in my life into what I was doing as a way to let it out.

This is the concept of this collection, and it is probably the only way I have continued to work out all of these years, or how I ever made it through four years of college track. From this short conversation with him, it changed the way I work out ever since. Whether track, running, lifting, crossfit, whatever it is- I have managed to learn to release the things that are dragging me down while I do it- and leave the work out feeling lighter. Long days, health issues, break ups, friend problems, school, family- whatever it was, I have mentally trained myself to channel that anger/bitterness/resentment/frustration into something that can benefit my life in a different way.

This was an invaluable lesson and gift that Rick gave me that day.

So, heed his advice.

Focus on what sucks,

and channel it into something better.

Let it out.

A look into my sketchbook at the running collection that came from this inspiration.

God knows that I never turned into the pole vaulter that I could/would/should have, but all of the training, every single practice, each debilitating injury or the hours and hours of physical work that didn't really get me any closer to my old 'athletic goals'- I don't regret for one minute. 

The lessons that I learned from Rick that I have used in so many areas in my life again and again, and the hard realities I learned about myself through the challenges of team and individual sports- make them all so incredibly worth it to me.

Thanks Rick :)

AWAY ON HOLIDAY

Once upon a time I used to fly from Portland to Nantucket for the summer to babysit my baby cousins with my oldest childhood friend, Lexi. 

This picture from ooooh summer 2006 (I feel old) Lexi and I met in Nantucket for a brief visit- no babysitting this time.

No worries though, my entire family was still there :). From left, cousin Charlie, Lexi, brother Charley, little cousin Jack, cousin Lucy. 

Ooooh family.

That dashingly handsome man on the left is my Pops, the second handsome man in the middle is my famous Uncle Marty and on the last handsome man on the right is their old friend John. My Uncle Marty is the one who has always generously taken me into his home in Nantucket. 

A trip on ze boat from years ago.

Me and Jackattack from so long ago!!! Now he is almost as tall as I am! I know, hard to imagine...but I changed this kids diapers.

(Cool hair Mags...)

Ok now fast forward to this past weekend. No more trips down memory lane-

In just less than one hour, JetBlue will take you from JFK to ACK! Right to Nantucket, wham bam thank you mam. 

By 10:30am I was in the back yard having tea with ELLE magazine.

The first night we got there, there was a tomato tasting at my Uncle's organic farm, Pumpkin Pond. 

My Uncle and his staff.

Filled to the brim with tomatoes. 

Early to town the next morning. 

It looks like something from a children's book.

On another day, Ryan and I ventured out to Sconset. 

ooohh pretty colors....#ADD.

No better form of transportation on the island than my Uncle's Jeep.

Ate this deliciousness at their yacht club for lunch.

Brief beach break afterwards. Take your shoes off. Stay awhile.

On Saturday, my Uncle Marty, my cousin Charlie and I headed to Scituate for my Grammy's husbands funeral. She had been married to the most New England version of a man I had ever met, 'a real touch of class', a phrase that he often used :) His name was Freeman (so American) and they were together for 10 years. My Grams and Freeman were special companions whose differences brought them together in friendship and in love. I am very sad that he is gone, but he spent the last few years battling emphysema, and I'm happy to know that he is now in peace and no longer in pain. Although short, it was so good to see my Grammy and to be there for her during this time.

#charleymcgowanproblems #narcoleptic

Both my brother Charley and my cousin Charlie are famous for passing out. Everywhere. But especially cars.

So while Charlie was sleeping, Marty and I went to a beautiful French cafe for coffee and pastries...naturally.

The little jumpers from Nantucket to Hyannis took some getting used to (only 8 people on the plane) but they are very fun and you board right from the runway so I feel like a Kennedy...I mean right?

One of my favorite parts of coming to Nantucket is cooking at my Aunt and Uncles. Both are absolutely amazing cooks, and it doesn't hurt now that they have a farm full of fresh, delicious, organic  vegetables at their fingertips. 

Oh and a full bar at their fingertips...

Their house is by far one of the most beautiful yet cozy homes I have ever been in. 

After dinner it was time for a little cousin loving. Apparently looking absolutely frightening is genetic...Charlie ACTUALLY looks like an alien. 

Then maybe a little drink in town.

Finally got a good beach day.

Found this creep gross chair on the beach so clearly Ryan needed to have a photo in it.

The bike ride home. Don't worry mom, I didn't take these while I was riding...

All in all, I almost changed my flight to stay longer. Oh Nantucket, how I will always love you.