Also present was Ball Drop…Dude…get on the Isotope site!
I will admit that the only other time I was this nervous to Q was when I had my VQ back on April 20th, 2015 at Man Maker Monday. I spent days working and trying to perfect my weinke. Today, I had no idea what we were going to do other than the Warm O Rama…and the messages I wanted to deliver today. Wasn’t sure how many would show up…Is this a typical Samson group? Would this be a big group with the announced AO convergence? Would anyone show up at all? So, I decided to shoot from the hip. As I had no sleep during the night, I woke up at 4am and made sure it was a 2 cup of java kind of day. Changed, grabbed the Sweet Tooth shovel flag and headed out the door. Still overcome with emotion, it was hard to keep back the tears. I was not sure if I could get any of my messages across…but I could at least try. Pulled into the LFC parking lot and apparently there was some #Standard going on (Etch A Sketch and Jimmy O). Planted the shovel in the front grass area and awaited for the Pax to arrive. 19 brothers, a pooch, YHC and of course, an Angel, were about to witness my comeback Q.
530 arrived. I gave my very clumsy disclaimer…hey…I am rusty. Tried to speak about the importance of this day…5 months ago to the date and….crap. No way I was going to get that out…Audible
Honored our flag and Country with The Pledge of Allegiance
This is what went down to the best of my knowledge.
Warm O Rama
Mosey to front grassy area and circle up around Sweet Tooth SF.
(4) 8 Count Body Builders IC
(20) Side Straddle Hops IC
(8) Mericans IC
4-20-08 Christina’s birthday
(5) IC Imperial Storm Troopers missing the inflection of the voice on the last rep. Again…rusty
(6) Cotton Pickers IC
(16) Mountain Climbers IC
5-6-16 Christina’s day of passing
Talked about 5 month anniversary and how Mooch shared something with my while up in NY for my daughter’s funeral that I often refer to when I need to be “picked up”.
“Carry”
WE ARE HERE TO CARRY YOU, THERE TO PUCK UP THE PIECES WHEN THE PIECES ARE BIGGER THAN LIFE. WE WILL CARRY TRHOUGHT THE TOUGH, STRENOUS, MIND-BENDING TIMES. CARRY YOU THROUGH THE BURDEN SPREAD AND SHARE THE BURDEN WITH YOU. WE WILL CARRY YOU UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO CARRY SOMEONE ELSE. WITH TIME YOU WILL CARRY ONE ANOTHER. THAT IS HOW WE CARRY EACH OTHER!
Mentioned that for the past 5 months (and even before) F3 has been carrying me. Said some other sentimental stuff but also wanted to show my gratitude.
(5) MINUTES OF BURPEES
5 Month anniversary
20 count by Jimmy O to catch breath…
Mosey to prayer garden to grab our blocks
The Thang:
8 of everything because Christina was 8 years old.
8 Curls IC
8 Squats IC
8 Low Flutter with chest press IC
Zampirini to corner of pull up bars
8 Skull Crushers IC
8 Alternating lunges IC
8 Russian Twists IC
Bear Crawl with block to other corner
Mosey around lot to catch breath…yes at an Olive pace that is attainable Etch
8 Shoulder Press IC
8 Low, slow Squat IC
8 WWII Situps with Block
Walker to corner with AMRAP curls with block
8 Chest Press IC
8 Monkey Humpers IC
8 LBC’s with block IC
Lunge Walk about to starting corner
Hmmm. Only 4 pain stations…no, it’s the 5 month anniversary.
Pain station 5
8 Jack Webbs with cinder block (10 count between rep 6 and 7)…
Return blocks to prayer garden.
Uncle Rico shows off his extra credit prowess on the monkey bars.
MARY
8 Dying cockroach IC
8 Rosalita IC
8 BoxCutter IC
8 Low Flutter IC
CoT
After counting off, Name O Rama and announcements I shared something else that I frequently refer to:
MY LORD GOD, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I AM GOING. I DO NOT SEE THE ROAD AHEAD OF ME. I CANNOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHERE IT WILL END. NOR DO I REALLY KNOW MYSELF, AND THE FACT THAT I THINK I AM FOLLOWING YOUR WILL DOES NOT MEAN THAT I AM ACTUALLY DOING SO. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE DESIRE TO PLEASE YOU DOES IN FACT PLEASE YOU. AND I HOPE I HAVE THAT DESIRE IN ALL THAT I AM DOING. I HOPE THAT I WILL NEVER DO ANYTHIING APART FROM THAT DESIRE. AND I KNOW THAT IF I DO THIS YO UWILL LEAD ME BY THE RIGHT ROAD, THOUGH I MAY KNOW NOTHING ABOU IT. THEREFORE, I WILL TRUST YOU ALWAYS THOUGH I MAY SEEM TO BE LOST AND IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH. I WILL NOT FEAR, FOR YOU ARE EVER WITH ME, AND YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE ME TO FACE MY PERILS ALONE.
Thomas Merton-
Moleskin:
I appreciated the support. I appreciated the mumblechatter and certainly appreciated the hard work, effort and perseverance of the Pax today.
Limburger, thanks for asking me to Q…something I needed and hopefully it provided me a touch of healing.
I have certainly been lost and truly have no idea where I am going. But today, today, I was able to stand on my two feet, remove (most of) my sorrow, and hopefully I was able to better the bodies, the minds and the spirits of 19 other brothers.
Live life, own every second…and never…never take anything for granted!
Humbly Yours,
Olive-