The OKC Marathon is more than just a 26.2 mile run

I don’t know how many Oklahoma City citizens know this (roughly 20,000) but the noisiest cross streets in North America on Sunday, April 26, 2009 happened to be in Oklahoma City…at N.W. 6^th and Harvey to be exact. I know this because I live one block away on 5^th street. I was awake against my will at 6:00 a.m., but this time I was ok with it.

I have been awaken numerous times living downtown (mostly by the train because it feels the need to blow its horn for 3-4 minutes straight at 4:30 a.m.) but never have I been more…um…fulfilled to be awake so early to the sound of loud speakers and dedicated runners; dedicated to running at the remembrance of the 168 that lost their lives due of the tragedy striking Oklahoma City in 1995.

Everyone has a story of that morning. Mine happens to be one of sitting in Miss Mayer’s 6^th grade English class feeling the building shake and later on at lunch hearing the announcement over the intercom of a bomb in the downtown area. I also remember seeing nothing on TV for that entire week except half of a downtown building I had never seen before yet would change my life and millions of others’ forever.

I see that site every day walking to work; walking back from work. I meet tourists all the time coming here to remember; coming here to witness. They remember that day. I remember that day. On April 26, 2009 we all remembered it together.

I’m a little embarrassed to say that I have never participated in the marathon. I think we all should. On Tuesday at lunch I talked with a friend, Nancy Redinger, who participated in the 5-person relay.  I thought to myself, “I want to do that…There are five people in my family…we should all participate.” I immediately sent out a text to my mom, my dad, my younger brother Tristan and my older brother Mike with the idea. Within minutes I got response from all of them. “Yes!” “Wow…cool” “Sounds good.” Responses I had hoped and for responses I expected.

Marathon participants pray under the Survivor Tree during a service at the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial before the start of the ninth annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps.

Next year team Cornett is looking to run the course. We’re looking to join those in waking those sleeping in downtown. I figure if enough join us in the cause than hopefully there will be nobody left to “wake up.” Where were you on April 19, 1995 and will you join with your neighbors and participate in someway next year?

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Gandhi

Having 20/20 for OKC in 2020

When I finally decide to purchase a condo in downtown I want somewhere to go on a Saturday/evening walk. Somewhere to take guests from out of town where noise isn't abundant and is still in walking distance. Somewhere that takes my mind off of wishing I was back in Madrid's Retiro Park (http://tinyurl.com/ctn6r4) or NYC's Central Park and focus on being proud to be in OKC. I love being here now, but when I picture the time when all the previously stated comes true I hope it's not because the 1 block at 4th and Gaylord remains but that Core to Shore and Maps 3 come to full fruition.  

I think Blair and I are on the same side when it comes to seeing OKC become more walkable and pedestrian friendly. I hope to join in Blair's efforts to keep OKC's decision makers on track (as they have been stepping up mightily with bringing Speck and pushing for the Core to Shore plan).  

The one thing I hoped to accomplish with my last blog posting was to ensure hope into all those protesting the block at 4th and Gaylord that there is another project worth your time and efforts. I'm just hoping that enthusiasm for OKC's future isn't hanging on the fate of that block that has already been approved for change. I need all those wishing to keep OKC going in the right direction to not get discouraged yet to shift focus to what could/should be a project for OKC's next generation(s).  

Am I against those protesting for the block at 4th and Gaylord? Absolutely not. I just know that those opposing the change on that block are the ones that should also be proponents of Core to Shore. I just hope the same energy and effort spent trying to save that block will still be available as it will be needed come the vote for Core to Shore.  

Steve Lackmeyer - Thanks for the blog love, but let's see your comments too and not just snippets of Blair and I's...  

For Blair Humphreys blog - http://imaginativeamerica.com/ 

For Steve Lackmeyer's blog - http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/ 

Blair- Don't you have a thesis to write? :)

Walkability and the Core-to-Shore

After listening to Jeff Speck's "Walkability" presentation at the city council meeting I started to get...giddy. Yup, I admit the butterflies were floating just thinking about the great direction this city that I live in is going. One of the MAJOR things I miss about living abroad was the opportunity to just leave my apartment and get "lost" in all the shops and pubs and entertainment readily available in Madrid...without ever getting in a car. I thought Speck's presentation ideas were spot on in so many ways. Sure you can find things to argue about in the presentation, I mean, the information was made to be a 3-hour presentation so there were plenty of suggestions that can be debated.

One of the great things about being at that presentation was that I was there as a pedestrian, an urbanite, a downtown worker, a downtown walker (even though at times it seems i'm the only one) and also a downtown dreamer. I get excited about our future plans as a city and I get even more excited reading about core-to-shore.

For those that have been living in a cave you find more extensive insights into Core-to-Shore here http://www.okc.gov/planning/coretoshore/index.html. 

The Core-to-Shore project will add so much more greenspace to our already-lacking-green image. The sad thing i'm starting to notice is that all the people who are strongly for greenspace are still focusing their efforts towards the 1 square block of privately owned and privately funded Chamber building going in at 4th and EK Gaylord. Hasn't that already been approved and moved on? Sure, there is still another (I believe just 1) date set on the beautification aspect of that space...but the building is still going there, let's move on. The core-to-shore project will be bring roughly 20-square blocks of greenspace. Why can't greenspace lovers and journalists focus on what has yet not been decided on instead of still arguing over the 1-square block to argue over. That block is done, it was a good fight to keep it. But now let's join together and make sure we don't miss the boat on another big greensapce opportunity.

"Blow your mind"

Going over to Dear's house last night (Dear is my grandma, it's the name we've called her my whole life - and it fits her quite well) at 9:15 p.m. is a testament to how great she is because unlike most grandmas (in bed by 8:00 p.m.) I can call her late at night and swing by and hangout.

When I got there Dear was in her kitchen cooking a meal to bring to some church function (Crossings Community Church - shamless plug) and not only that, she has her kitchen TV on as well as her laptop on the counter set up to the internet just browsing stuff. 

Recap- my grandma invites me over to hangout at 9:15 p.m. I arrive and see her more technologically plugged-in than numerous teenagers i know.

Ok, so I decide to show her the Google Maps street view. We cruise around OKC and then head down to Houston to look at a house she lived in back in 1970. It was a blast. After that I told her I was going to "Blow your mind" and took her overseas to Madrid to show her my old apartment and all my favorite places to walk around be with friends. 

I thought all of this was so much fun, not because I'm one of the lucky people that still has the opportunity to spend time with grandparents (two grandmas within 15 miles of my apartment) but also very proud that I have a grandma that is still very active and loves to learn about new things. From her style of living, I am continually pushed to always learn new things and to never allow myself to sit and be content. 

Thank you, Dear. Next time, don't keep ME up to late. 

What Women Want

I am not only going to confess that I watched Mel Gibson's "What Women Want" (2000) last night I'm also going to let it all out and say I would probably recommend it to those who haven't seen it. 

Once you get past the OBVIOUS that the title itself is a nonsensical statement (as nobody in there right mind really does knows what women want) and start watching the movie it is obvious that this movie was written by a woman...and I'm not looking it up so if actually was written by man he is my new hero. As I laid there on my couch watching what I was sure going to be another ridiculous chick flick I couldn't turn it off. The movie does not harp on the falsehood of the impossible (understanding what women want) and instead delves into the communications/relationship model as a whole.

Relationships with friends, families and of course the people that we just casually see on the street everyday; just because we may not know their name(s) doesn't mean an interaction doesn't occur of some sort (twitter/facebook/myspace/TV/newspaper/radio etc).

The movie made me further realize the importance of taking notice on the people that make up your day-to-day life. It's up to me to try and listen to what they're trying to say (or what they want to say). 

"But behavior in the human being is sometimes a defense, a way of concealing motives and thoughts, as language can be a way of hiding your thoughts and preventing communication." -Abraham Maslow

Credit, Taxes, Stocks, Insurance

As someone in their mid 20's i'm faced with task that nobody can avoid, learning "grown-up" issues. These issues are not limited to but definitely pertain: Credit, Taxes, Stocks and Insurance. 

Let me list the possibilities for teenagers/young adults trying to learn these important unavoidable tasks: mentor for all 4 sections, specialized classes in a university, take workshops for all four individual sections...but let's be honest...which person in this age group has the money it takes for these worshops/seminars? 

Probably the most common way for young adults to learn these practices is to just simply "learn-as-you-go."

For financial areas as crucial to a person's life as these are it is embarrassing that schools (high schools and universities) don't require all students to take courses on these. Yes, I know that few high schools and most universities offer a class or two to choose but what student (16-23) is going to choose a finance class over some of the more recreational electives offered in schools? 

Granted, there are those few students who know the importance of finances at an early age (thoses students usually come from families that ingrain that importance) but what about the common student...the one that knows the importance of being a kid? The ones that realize that this is the only time when they don't have to worry about rent or where there next meal is coming from? 

What do they do when it's time for them to join the American working class...struggle. If you know a student that fits the bill of needing that extra "push" in the financial direction, give them a shove...because it may take a shove from you to finally get them to take a step forward.

Joy in Mudville

For all of the Ernest Thayer fans out there an introduction to the poem "Casey At the Bat" is not needed, but for those wishing for one let's just say the outlook wasn't brilliant. 

"Casey At the Bat" has been my life-time favorite poem for obvious name comparisons but also for the imagery of Mudville. The poem, published nearly 121 years ago, is filled with descriptions begging the 8-year old spirit in all of us to keep reading.

It paints a story of a heroic figure named Casey who has been waiting for his big chance to shine when it comes to the big game. Unlike most poems (especially children's poems) when his chance comes, he fails. But that's just the start of the imagery. I would like to think Thayer wrote an altered ending. That maybe Casey could be redeemed in the following season (or maybe get traded to the Giants.) 

Regardless of Thayer's relentless attempt to paint Casey a failure for eternity, at least he swung at strike three instead of watching it go by.