WSA 5K

We drove to Oakland this morning for our run and were thrilled to find a chilly, overcast day. (Okay, maybe just me) It's easier to exercise when it's not hot out. (That may stem from years of swim team.)

John at the park, me by some gnarly trees

We picked up our new shirts and met some friendly families.

The location was beautiful, although the size of the lake was daunting.

One little boy came over on his dad's shoulders when we were taking a group picture and the dad told him to say hi to everyone. He waved and said "Happy birthday!" So cute! And so smart to know what balloons represent.

Other than a few babies, Tina on the right in orange, and little Aubrey who said "hi, girls!" to Karen and me as we ran, there weren't any other people there with Williams Syndrome. Or Williams-Sonoma, as Brian keeps calling it. But it was fun to meet them and it made us really wish we had Dallin with us.

Karen and I jogging right along. Alan went ahead, but John tried to stay back with our pace. He helped pass his time by taking pictures of the wildlife.

Eventually he went ahead and took pictures of us coming in. The best part was Karen saying she wanted to sprint at the end so she looked good for her man.

She's really fun to "run" with and it felt great to make it to the end together.

Then we were awarded finishing ribbons! We did it!

We headed over to the farmer's market next to the lake because we heard they had great waffles.

They were right. Nutella and whipped cream. Had to replenish all those calories we burned.

The people we met there were friendly and sold some delicious produce and dairy. Spelling is not their forte.

Then we stopped at Aunt Marilyn's on the way home. I hadn't met her yet and she is a hoot! She told us stories about getting a nursing degree so she could be an airline stewardess, then enlisting in the Navy one week before the Pearl Harbor attack, thinking the war was almost over, and becoming an aircraft mechanic because her dad was a mechanic and showed her how to read gauges. She said they say join the Navy and see the world, but that didn't work for her because she was stationed in Alameda, 68 miles from where she grew up. She kept pausing and telling us she was thinking of a way to make it shorter for us or to ask if she was boring us yet. It seems like she's led a fascinating life and it was fun to visit with her.

She said her life is not very exciting these days and that one of the highlights is when the squirrels in the tree out the window do ballet. She kicked her leg out and said the important thing is she's still kicking!