Everything seemed normal this morning. Alex made fancy pumpkin waffles. We were neither kosher nor healthy and had bacon. We were talking about Halloween and midterms and spaghetti straps. Then, out of nowhere, this happened:
Josh: Hey, want to run the New York City marathon with me?
Me: Me?
Josh: Yeah.
Dani: When is it?
Josh: In like 20 days.
Me: Don't people like ... train for that?
Josh: Well ... there's no rule. You just have to enter.
Me: Isn't it multiple miles though? Miles where you're supposed to be running? Continuously?
Josh: Yeah.
Alex: I'll do it!
Josh: I think you might be too young.
Me: How many miles can you run continuously before you need to stop?
Josh: I don't know. A couple. We could go running to build up stamina.
Me: In all our free time?
Josh: Yeah, we could go at night.
Dani: I can't see Sammers running. Unless ... do you get money at the end?
Josh: No, you just run to run.
Alex: Like Forest Gump?
Josh: No, you get a runner's high, it feels good.
Dani: So you jog. It's endurance, not speed?
Josh: Well, it's kind of both. There's a winner who reaches the finish line first, but you switch between jogging and sprinting.
Alex: I've never seen Sam jog. I don't even know if she knows how.
At this point Josh started looking deflated and I felt bad for him. I suggested we go running today, before our fire family dinner. He perked up and in the afternoon the two of us headed out. I stood on the little step that leads from our building to the sidewalk, dropped my heel, and when Josh asked what I was doing, I explained that while I wasn't positive, I thought it was stretching out my hamstrings. He laughed and waited for me.
We jogged down the block. We turned a corner. I remembered this thing about how you're supposed to be able to work out and talk all at the same time.
Me: We should talk.
Josh: Uhh .... about what?
Me: Anything! Aren't we supposed to be able to talk and run at the same time?
Josh: Oh! Sure. Or we can work up to that.
We jogged down another block. I got into a groove of listening to my breathing and footsteps. I made a shopping list in my head. I wondered if there were couples who go jogging together and wear matching outfits. Decided there probably are, and those are probably the same people who get matching shirts in Hawaii saying they got lei'd.
I think a mile is 20 city blocks, or four times around a track. We'd gone about three quarters of a mile when Josh suggested we stop. We slowed to a walk, then Josh put his hands on his knees and made horrible wheezing sounds for a few minutes before we could go back to walking.
Josh: How are you not dying?
Me: I don't know.
Josh: We do the same stuff. We should be in the same shape.
Me: You work out at the gym.
Josh: I lift. I don't walk on the treadmill for a half hour.
Me: Oh. But you play basketball and roller hockey.
Josh: Yeah. Running is hard.
We walk home. Shower and change. Josh watches while I french braid my hair.
Josh: You were barely out of breath. How'd you do it?
Me: I don't know. Maybe going to yoga paid off.
Josh: Maybe.
Me: Maybe it's all those stairs.
Josh: What stairs?
Me: I take the stairs all the time.
Josh: Instead of the elevator? Like every day?
Me: Yeah.
Josh: You go in elevators all the time. We've made out in elevators.
Me: I go in them with you because you seem to want to use them. When I'm with a sister, or at school or by myself, I run up the stairs.
Josh: I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me?
Me: Didn't occur to me.
Josh: You do this every day?
Me: Yeah. At school too.
Josh: I need to think about this.
Me: Are you going to think about it when we go running tomorrow night?
Josh: Oh. Let's aim for next year's marathon. Not this year's.
29 comments:
lol brilliant.
I love it! Go Sam!
What a great post...I started to see it coming when I got to the part about you asking about talking. It sounds like you may become an "unintended runner!" I have no doubt that you will do great in the marathon next year if you stick to it!
Oh yeah, I personally believe that being able to run with my bf is a very, very sweet thing to do.
Anyway, it'd be great if you stick to the 'plan' to join the marathon next year. Good luck! :)
This is a really funny story. I love that you're a secret athlete.
Love it. Having just read through all your archives in the last couple of weeks, seems like if anyone could decide to do a marathon with 20 days notice, it would be you. Probably feel better all round, 'though, if you hold off til next year...
Love this post! :)
I'm so happy that you're getting back into running, Sam!
Doing so surely will help keep your mood even and your spirits high, and perhaps also assist you in your efforts to get to bed at a reasonable hour.
How wonderful to run together with Josh!
Isn't it interesting what each of you learned about the other.
What a nice post.
This is AWSOME!!!! YOU ROCK:-)
Okay so i've come across your blog, and read bits of bobs of it, but i get the gist of your life, left to look after 2 sisters cause you mum and brother died right?
And I'm not trying to be horrible, believe me I'm not, but some of your blog seems a bit far fetched and dare I say it, 'fictional'.
And before anyone says I don't know what it feels like, they'd be right, I don't. But I have a best friend, the kindest guy you'd ever meet. He's always put others before himself, no matter what. And I've known him since I was three, and he was four, and he's now 17.
And so far, in his 17 years he lost his dad, he then lost his two other best friends the year after, and a year and two days ago today, he lost his mum. His baby sister then died in May this year. So no one say this girls had a worse life than anyone, cause I think his life comes pretty close.
And I'm saying this, not because I think he's had a worse life like its some competition, but because he's gone through all of this and he still stayed strong, he's still funny, and kind and amazing,and speaks to all of his life time friends. He doesn't take it out on other people, or moan or complain about others and the world, because its not their fault. Sure he breaksdown sometimes and cries. But he never feels like his life should be something he can moan about on the internet and complain about the rest of the world on. And with that thing about your sister stealing your money and you hate her? Don't. Cause you're lucky you have them left in your life.
Because right now, as I right this, my best friend is layign in a hospital bed critically ill wishing he had loved his little sister a little bit more when she was alive.
So think about that when you act like you've got the worst life in the world and no one else looses people like you have. Cause they do. Only they're not so dramatic about it.
Anonymous 3 (writer of the long post), I've been thinking along the same lines as you. I have to admit that I, too, wonder how much of this blog is fictitious.
Poke around Google for:
1) a mother and son both killed 9/11 in NYC
2) son was named Christopher, and was in the Brooklyn FD
3) three daughters left orphaned
And... you won't find anything that fits.
Re 2: There are published lists of all the firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11 (here's an example: http://www.nyfd.com/9_11_wtc.html). Only a handful of those firefighters were named Christopher, and only a couple of the Christophers were with Brooklyn firehouses. And if you look up their details (age, family info, etc.), they don't match...
Yes, Sam's got some riveting stuff here, but should it be placed in this category ?
Um, ya. I did the same thing. Looked for firemen named Christopher of the right age. Nope. Looked for mom and son killed in 9/11. Nope. I'm willing to believe, but am I being naive? But what would be in it for someone keeping up the front for three years? Just wonderin'
To the 2 anonnies above, did you see in one of the first blog posts where sam said she didnt want any fame or publicity? So isn't it possible that she's used everyones middle name instead of first name or something?
To the top anon while it is sad about your friend you are 16 and don't know Sam - maybe she is perfectly nice in her interactions with people in her day to day life and this blog is where she vents and lets it all out. Doesn't seem like she's cruel and miserable and unfriendly to every one every day.
I'm the second anon. Yes, I thought of that, but I still can't find any news of fireman son and mom both killed on 9.11. If I'm being malicious and weird, I apologize. But you can't blame people for being a little unsure.
So think about that when you act like you've got the worst life in the world and no one else looses people like you have. Cause they do. Only they're not so dramatic about it.
Over the years, I've read every single post Sam has posted here. I don't think she's ever indicated she thinks she has the worst life in the world. One might ask what is going on with you, Anonymous at 12:53, that you would read that into her writing. There's nothing wrong with having a place to reflect, vent, and sort things out.
You are right that it is not a competition. No one would argue, however, that Sam's life has not been difficult. If you had actually read more than a few posts, you would see that Sam is anything but "dramatic" about the challenges she's faced.
If you don't care to read, don't.
Poke around Google for:
1) a mother and son both killed 9/11 in NYC
2) son was named Christopher, and was in the Brooklyn FD
3) three daughters left orphaned
And... you won't find anything that fits.
^^^^ I know right? I mean I can understand people can have this sort of thing happen in their lives and get really unlucky (my best friend being one of those people) but how far can you stretch something bad like that to make it more dramatic for people to want to read. Sure, I don't see how she would gain something from it, but it does seem far too fictious for me.
To the top anon while it is sad about your friend you are 16 and don't know Sam
What has my age got to do with anything? And you're right I don't know her, and don't think I'm syaing it to hurt her, cause that wasn't my intention, i'm just viocing my opinion, that it does seem to go a little far fetched sometimes. And if she is making up some of her life for a bit more drama, that can be seen as hurtful to others.
One might ask what is going on with you, Anonymous at 12:53, that you would read that into her writing.
Okay so about the time thing, I live in England, so it's not going ot be the same times as what is put on this thing, and what it going on with me? Nothing really. Just someone who was looking, at a perfectly normal 4 in the afternoon, for other people who have had greif and how they deal with it to help my best friend and I'm sorry if i seem hurtful to this Sam girl, but obviously i'm not the only one who has a feeling some of this isn't actually a real life shes writing about
I mean she's an amazing runner from walking up stairs all the time? Don't think so.
looking . . . for other people who have had greif and how they deal with it to help my best friend
A fine thing to do. And whether Sam's story is true or fiction, there is much in her posts that could be of help, comfort, and inspiration to your friend. If you can see that, then isn't that all that matters? If you can't see that, then why bother reading or commenting any further?
Yes, not to be completely insensitive if this is all true, but if Sam's mom was really a seamstress who worked out of her home in Brooklyn, then how did she die on 9/11? Meeting the uber-wealthy boyfriend whose parents are fine with him moving in with Sam AND her two little sisters AND renting them all a super-nice apartment together? It all seems a little far-fetched.
I also wondered about how her mom died in 9/11 if she was a home-based seamstress in Brooklyn. And where is the dad? Do all the siblings have the same dad? If so, why do they have no contact with him? If not, why isn't at least one kid's dad in the picture? Also, why did Alex start high school at age 12? Is she a genius?
If i am being honest, I haven't found a lot of comfort and help for my best friend in her blog, she doesn't seem to have gotten over the death very well if i'm being perfectl honest.
And exactly, how did her mum die in 9/11 if she worked from home? and then being neglected by her aunt, surely then she should have called a service or police to help? and then being able to look after bother her sisters? I dont know about America, but over here the authorities wouldn't let that happen, they'd go into care.
And somehow she's managed to get this super rich boyfriend who's parents are fine with it all, and he's living with her and all of this. And surely to God, if she's struggling for money and having all these jobs, she shouldnt be able to afford college?
So all of these people can read her blog and actually swear that they dont think this is a little far fetched? because, lets be honest, it's easy for her to strach the truth online
Sam-I love that Josh thinks you would have told him you take the stairs when you're not together! This was a great post.
Isn't it possible that sam's mom was delivering altered clothing to someone in one of the twin towers? maybe her mom and brother don't have the same last names and that's why noone connected that they were son and mother. lots of kids have no contact with a father so it doesn't seem like such a big deal to not have one.
sam blogged about alex skipping a grade. if you know all about the details of cut off dates for the different states in the US you will understand she just turned 13 in 9th grade. so she's now one year younger then the majority of her classmates. again, sam talked about pushing alex to be skipped ahead a year.
sam talks about being nervous about money. not that she doesn't have any. plus she is not just supporting herself. she is supporting two other girls as well.
sure sam could have called the police on her aunt. where was her guarantee that she and her sisters could have been placed in the same foster family though? she's said numerous times that it was important to her that they stay together.
enjoy your conspiracy theory. sam is not writing for YOU. she is writing for herself. she doesn't owe you anything
Anonymous,Get real.Do you think Sam concocted all the fire family dinners and was so into making her readers think her story true that over three fucking years shes taken the time out on sundays and written about them? read her whole blog then give us your opinion.Im sorry your friend has delt with such loss but please dont come here,and not fully read her blog and then question/comment on Sams grief.Thats just plain shitty.Also there were many stories of loved ones that werent reported on from 911.Sam and her sisters were minors
and if you did your homework a bit better there is a christopher (itallian last name)correct age from a firehouse that lost others.Let him rest in peace.
sorry I sound so bitchy but shit like this just isnt cool.oh and p.s. She hates Alex??????????? now its very plain to see you havent read her blog.
If nothing else, you could get this story published as young adult fiction because, true or not, it IS riveting.
No matches with any of the Christopers who would have been the right age:
Christopher Mozzillo
http://www.eloquentbooks.com/author_pages/mozzillo_mysonmyhero/about.html
(This is a link to a bio of Chris's father --- info makes it clear he's not a match.)
Christopher Santora
http://christophersantora.com/books/detail/my_son_christopher/
(This Chris's mother is still alive.)
Sam -
I started reading your blog a few weeks ago after I saw the reference on Snickollet's blog which I follow as a mother of two young children. I want to let you know that your writing is incredible and I am moved by your story and how you tell it and how well you take care of your sisters. I have not thought for a moment that it could be fictional. I would hate for you to read the comments on this blog and not know that there are many of us who love your writing, don't doubt your experiences, and would hate for you to be discouraged by reading the comments posted by other readers. Please don't stop writing!
Some things some of you commenters might want to consider:
o Reading the whole blog before claiming information is missing.
o Realizing what might be being said by what is not being said.
o A little thing called pseudonyms and the idea that the blog author might be using them
o Not ruining things for us nice Anonymouses.
o What you really gain by risking hurting a young lady whose story is true just to make yourself feel good by proving her story to be false.
Sam, this was a fantastic post. Hope you keep up both the writing and the running.
Sam, PLEASE don't stop writing. Please ignore ignorant people who have nothing better to do with their lives than read your blog just to diss on it. I see no point in their comments and hope they don't discourage you from writing. I think it is clear that Sam does not want people to know who she is, so people, please stop looking and just take this blog for what it was started for a what it is, a place for Sam to call her own and have whatever feelings she chooses to have and put those feelings in a safe place instead of doing something negative, like fighting. Sam, I have read your blog from start to finish over the last few months (linked from Snickollet, who I also troll from afar ;)). Now that I've "caught up," I'm struggling with not having a months worth of entries to read a day ;) I encourage you to keep writing as I see healthy change in you, even if you don't. I wish you the best.
Since all the comments are pretty much annoynamous, its easy to mix up who says what. Yes i posted the first comment about it not being entirly real. But it appears more anonymous people have agreed with me and spoke up, i'm afraid i've just voiced an opinion that made other people stand up and say there's too.
I haven't once said that her brother doesn't exist, that there's something wrong with not having a dad and that she used her real name/ should have used her real name.
I was just stating a matter of opinion, that both me and various other people share, that clearly only people who aren't so close minded and gullable have.
Becuase, I have to say most of it probably is true, and that her family did die in 9/11, RIP, but some of her recent activities are a little fictional. And it's easy for her to stretch the truth.
Like I could say, because my brother is a good footballer, he plays for Manchester Untied, one of the best clubs in my country. He doesn't, but does anyone get my point of how easily you can stretch the truth and people believe it?
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