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Thursday, January 23, 2014

I don't want to forget your voice...

Let's start this post with something most of my generation will find ridiculous:  

Kevin and I have a home phone

Yep, like one that has a phone cable, plugs into the wall, and an answering machine.  Now - it is portable, so it's not the total power outage solution, but is better than nothing.  After living in Kennett where Verizon sucked at our home, a land line was incredibly helpful.  We kept the home phone when moving to Downingtown, although it took me a bit to get it hooked up.  My dad had a set of two phones, with the built in answering machine at his house.  He said they were spares (huh Dad?), so we "acquired them" like we do many things from his house.  

When Kevin and I finally hooked them up, we made a test call to our cell phones and everything worked - hooray, end of thought process.  Except, the story gets way better.  

Two weeks ago, just before we left for Seattle, the home phone rang.  Kevin and I were laying on the couch, and knowing that we hadn't even given anyone the number, just let it ring.  When the answering machine picked up - I cried.  You see, the answering machine saved the recording from the last person who used the phones.  The message when the answering machine picks up is Mary Elyn's.  And she says the phrase I must have heard on her answering machine a hundred times: 

"I'm not lost, I'm around here somewhere" 
and ends with 
"have a blessed day"

I don't have the heart to delete it - and haven't figured out how to record it and maintain the audio quality yet.  But you'd better believe that it made my day, my week, my month to hear her voice and those silly phrases that I've missed for two years.  It also made me remember that the only recordings we have of Mom's voice are probably old home movies - I guess I need to get started transferring those while they're still in good shape.  Happy tears, and memories of the most amazing grandmother isn't such a bad way to end the day.  


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

A Legacy... 1.22.02

I feel as though I think more about the legacy I want to leave behind than some people may.  The incredible people that have left my life in the last 5 years had a large influence on this focus in my life - thanks to their lessons, guidance, and own legacies.  I think my Mom left a pretty fantastic legacy behind with Christopher and I, her immediate and extended families, and the incredible contingent of friends she developed in 60 years.   So.. what is exactly is a legacy, and how do I develop my own?

According to Merriam-Webster, the (secondary) definition of legacy is:
  "something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past <the legacy of the ancient philosophers>"

I'm pretty much lost on developing my own - my current goals are developing a strong grouping of friends; preferably a diverse one, often referring back to my parents' "unit" for inspiration, motivation, and a reminder of why these people are so important every day. On another legacy related note, I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about an important person over the last few days.  

Twelve years ago today, the world lost a mother, wife, and sister - Lynn Kochka.  I have developed a wonderful friendship with all three of Kochka siblings (her children) over the last 4 years; Kevin, Tara, and Carolyn.  The legacy that Lynn left behind is one that affects my own view of "what I'll leave behind" on a frequent basis.  The morals and values she developed in her kids are the same as my own mom's (and dad's). I see/feel so many similarities in how we were raised - both in the physical (Worcester Connection), the emotional, and so much more.  

Lynn is a woman I would have loved to have met - and maybe I did.  Who knows if on a Harvest Day Saturday she was with the kids at Merrymead and we bumped into each other in the pumpkin corral?  But - one of the things about Lynn's legacy that most touches me is that twelve years after her passing, it brings me to tears as I try to express my admiration for her, my support for her children, and the connection I feel to a woman gone too soon.  I visit Lynn often - she is with my own mom at Central Schwenkfelder - and while I don't "hear" her the way I hear my own mom, I've filled her in on the engagement story of Erin & Kevin, their wedding planning journey, and when I might want to smack her son and future daughter in law upside the head (I mean that in the most loving way possible guys).  

In less words - I hope that my someday legacy is felt by friends of friends, friends of my someday kids, and those that only know me by association.  Lynn C Kochka - you have raised three humble, brave, and compassionate children.  I hope that you know, hear, and see how they strive to make you proud, share stories of your life together, and begin to pass on your family values as they begin their own families.  

Lynn C Kochka      6.16.56 - 1.22.02

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

2014 - And Here We Go!

Today seemed as good a day as any to get some posting going on!  Less than 100 days until the Fight for Air Climb, and we are right in the middle of training.  So far, training has included cardio, cardio, cardio, and a very wet 5 mile high in Washington.  Each moment I miss Mom is little more motivation to keep pushing myself both emotionally and physically.  We learned so much from last year's climb and have a new focus for this year!


  1. Focus on C.A.R.D.I.O. - While practicing the actual stairs is important, it is absolutely secondary to the workout your lungs will get.  This year my plan is to train for 30 minutes of my maximum heart-rate 3 days a week and only do stairs 2 times a week! 
  2. Food - Last year I ate a really small breakfast (a banana) before the climb, and that was it.  I wasn't very hungry - and it seemed like some combination of nerves and angst.  I have got to overcome that this year, because I was completely out of fuel by the time we went up the second time.  
  3. Fundraising - 2013 was hugely successful for our team (the 5 of us raised $2,995).  This year we're already at 7 people - with hopes to hit 10.  My fundraising goal is $2,000 for our team.  There are t-shirts, a Mary Kay fundraiser, and some general Facebook plans in the works!
Anyone who wants to join team "For Little Debbie" is more than welcome to (link here) - there are still spots available for  both the 50 flights and 100 flights!  Rockstar cousins Morgan and Titus will be climbing and we've got our own personal cheerleading squad started with Maddy being our poster holder/Gatorade Girl.  I am so thankful for this climb - and how the terrible loss of Deb continues to bring our family together! 

Happy Tuesday everyone <3