And then you notice the boys next door...

My husband, Bill, and I have been married for 20 blissful years. Not a bad day yet. :) In that time, and actually well before that, we have been practically stitched together to our friends Mike & Arlene Murphy and their daughter Eryn, who is 3 days older than our son Benny. (Benny insists he is older, though, because he was conceived exactly 3 weeks prior to Eryn. This is an almost 16-year old battle between Eryn ande Benny that still rages on at family dinners....)

Mike is the oldest brother in a very fetching(!) basketball team sized group of siblings. He designs big complicated buildings with materials that are glued together or something, manages a team of very lucky employees (in my opinion), officiates swim meets, plays a mean guitar, and is easily the best story-teller I know. He laughs often and loudly.
At Christmas dinner with the Murphy's, Mike and I spoke (as we often do) about our respective swim workouts: (He swims with the Federal Way Masters) "What set did Wendy have you do today?" "What were your send-offs on those 100's....hmmmm?" It dawns on me that I need a new coach and I'm staring at one over perfectly brewed cups of coffee (another of Mike's many gifts). I never thought of Mike in the "swim coach" category of my life. He was always in the "Good Friend" category! But the angel of Christmas waved her magic wand(?) and plopped RTB's next swim coach right in my lap. NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On to the next brother......

The youngest brother, Jim, is one of those smart, natural athletes ended up playing with the Chicago Cubs organization.....and eventually went to the Olympics as a coach......and got a Master's degree.....and just plain grew up while I wasn't watching all that closely. Jim has turned into one of the sports industry's experts on mental training. Seriously.... he has books and tapes and a neat website and everything. He and I have talked on this topic a few times and I've always left these conversations with much to think about as an athlete. He chatted with Mike over the holidays and found out what RTB is up to, and the rest, as they say, is history in the making.

Mike & Jim will be around the RTB community this year - Mike coaching at the pool on Monday nights and Jim speaking at team meetings and helping athletes overcome mental hurdles regarding their training and racing. My intuition tells me that RTB will be better with the Murphy boys around.

So my reflection on all this while I sip my mediocre self-brewed cup of coffee? Raise the Bar is starting its 5th year and I find myself SURROUNDED by some of the best people I've ever known. And its funny how I've known many of these people a long time - 10 years, 20 years, 30 years! ......and would not have imagined working (playing) together here at RTB. Many I've only met in the last year or two but our connections with each other are powerful and meaningful. And RTB wouldn't be what it is without each one of them.
So I'm starting 2008 very grateful indeed.......

Coffee's gone - back to work.