Credit Card Dreams

In addition to supporting a number of nonprofits, my bank card has allowed or is going to allow me in the next few weeks to invest in running shoes and a cello.

The running shoes: My Uncle Stanley is a triathlete, marathon and Iron man runner. He is an inspiration. My whole life he has been competing in events. Sometimes he places high in his age bracket, sometimes he doesn't. Regardless, he continues to train, to improve himself. He's just absolutely amazing to me.
My boyfriend is also a runner. I suppose one has to be with being in the Army. So, in the hope of being able to run together - someday, perhaps years from now - and with the hope of starting to compete myself next year (small races, 5K), I've started to run. So I needed running shoes. I bought my Asics in May and I've been running and exercising them since then. At this point, I am still doing a lot of run/walking, but I have noticed that the running has gotten much longer and I'm able to do less walking. Once I can do all running I'll work on speed, but I'm not thinking that will happen for a few weeks or so, which is ok for me. I'm just trying to improve my lifestyle, have some fun, perhaps become a regular runner. I'm not trying to run a marathon - at least not for many years - but I would like to run a 5K easily. Maybe someday I'll be like my Uncle Stanley. One never knows.

In the next week, I expect to buy a cello. I played the cello in high school. It's an instrument I absolutely loved. My family didn't have the money to buy one and I was so committed to all the 15000 clubs and committees that I was on that I didn't have enough time to really give to it. I used the cello at the school, just for a year, but I so enjoyed it that ever since I've been wanting to get my own cello and play again. So here I am, almost 10 years later, finally with a bit of money to put into a true love of mine. I could squirrel away the money or I could satisfy a dream. This will be no instant gratification purchase. I've researched for years. Yes, years. I'm thinking of getting just a medium-range cello for now and then buying a better one after a few years of study. Over the summer, I'd like to just practice at home, but in the fall, I think I'll enroll in lessons after school in addition to German lessons.

I'm thinking about doing the post play next Spring, too, once I have a better handle on all the lessons I want to take and a solid running schedule. I love living my life!