Bloomsday and Family Traditions

June, it's June and there's no snow to be seen. I really do like snow and I love the four seasons, but some years the Winter hangs on a little too long.

Each year my family likes to participate in Bloomsday, a 15K run/walk here in the Pacific Northwest. You have to finish the race to earn the coveted Bloomsday t-shirt. The next day people wear their shirts to work.

When I moved here over 30 years ago, a friend suggested I run the race for fun. Laughingly, I told her that I wasn't a runner. A few weeks later I found myself standing in the middle of 50,000 people in the middle of Downtown Spokane freezing to death anxiously awaiting the sonic boom that signaled our turn to start the race.

The clothes hanging in the trees are worn by runners before the race and when the race starts they throw them in the trees. The clothes are gathered up later and donated to thrift stores.

Over the years I've walked with friends and family. I've walked alone, I carried my son in a backpack, and I walked alongside many friends. I think I broke the two hour mark once. It's been so warm that we welcomed the spectators standing on the side of the road spraying us with hoses and its been so cold I kept my sweatshirt and sweatpants on until I crossed the finish line.

The metal sculptures in Riverfront Park wear past Bloomsday t-shirts.

Some people have tailgate parties, some have picnics in the park, and some go out to lunch. But after a long hot shower and a change of clothes my family gathers at my house to BBQ. Sometimes I think its the only reason we do the race, but there is that coveted shirt.

I never intended this to be a family tradition, but that's what happened. I've never won the race or even placed in my category, but I have a plastic tote full of t-shirts and a bucket load of memories and that's whats really important.

Until next time,

Clara