Fun Run

I planned to attend the annual Fun Run at our grandchildren’s elementary school in North Carolina. I was the solo caretaker of our two grandchildren for a couple of days during our recent visit. Gary, and our two sons, were on a scheduled hiking trip, and our daughter-in-law was out of town.

One side of the football field where the fun run was to take place.

After I dropped the kids off at school, I was stopped at a traffic light waiting for it to turn green. Rush hour traffic was whizzing by. When the light turned green, instead of turning right or left like all the others, I drove straight ahead into the McDowell Nature Preserve, a lovely 1,100-acre sanctuary, along Lake Wylie.

I drove along the winding road through a canopy of trees that were starting to show their beautiful fall colors. I left behind all those people scurrying to and fro, and I was the only one on this park road.

Falls colors in the misty, morning light.

I stopped at the lake and enjoyed the morning mist hovering over the water, as I sipped coffee to pass the time until the fun run would begin. It was peaceful. After a half an hour I retraced my tracks and and crossed the busy street again. Traffic had slowed down by then. 

A house on the other side of the lake becoming visible in the misty morning.

The Fun Run was getting underway and the kids were excited. I was happy to be there to cheer them on. I thought to myself, if only we could harness this energy… multitudes of 2 and 3rd graders on a football field shouting and running and having a good time…that’s a lot of energy!

As I entered the field, I made a quick stop at a table set up to create posters to help cheer on your student.

While cheering from the sidelines, I was greeted by, and talked with, a family from our son’s neighborhood, who recognized me. A few minutes later I saw another “bus stop” mom (I like to walk with the kids to the bus stop in the mornings). As the kids were filing out of the field one of the students from their bus stop recognized me as Zoey’s grandma and said “Hi”. It was pleasant surprise to be warmly welcomed by more than one person, at this event, when I was not expecting to see anyone I knew. A fun run, indeed.

Later in the day…bold, fall blue skies.

We enjoyed our quick visit with our grandchildren. It was hard to say good-bye; especially this time, since we were heading to a forecasted 30 degree temperatures in Minnesota, and leaving a forecasted 80 degree temperatures in Charlotte!

10 thoughts on “Fun Run”

  1. What a wonderful morning, first with that stop in the park, then being greeted by someone who remembered you from the bus stop and then the run itself. So glad you had this time with your dear Zoey and Ezra.

    1. It was special to be there, and we had a good time.
      We always visit the nature preserve when we visit. It’s close and beautiful and has a wonderful playground and a lot of hiking and picnic areas by the water, and a campground the kids go to once in awhile.

  2. What a special time with your two grandchildren! Enjoy them as much as possible as they grow up much too quickly!

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