Halloween Moments & Yosemite Miles

A week of family highlights and familiar routines, from Halloween and water polo to chilly Yosemite trails, blending the joy of new memories with the comfort of revisiting old ones.

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Moments (Oct 28-Nov 3)

• Best school day ever? That’s what Feris called it—a half day packed with random Halloween activities. I’m happy for her.

• Jero’s last water polo game of the season was on Monday. He had the biggest cheering section, took a few shots on goal (no luck), and though they lost 8-9, he came away with a frame-worthy action shot he keeps admiring.

• “What are you?” With her short skirt and vest, Lea responded, “I’m a preppy construction worker.” Maricar laughed, “More like sexy!” At least someone dressed up and cashed in on the free candy.

• Trick-or-treat nostalgia: What 10-year-old doesn’t want to go? This year, Feris opted to pass out candy to all the teenagers who came by. Our neighborhood, once crawling with little goblins and ghouls, seems to have grown up—now it’s mostly teenagers making the rounds.

• 36 hours in Yosemite: First stop, Mariposa Grove to see the massive sequoias, then to the valley for views of Yosemite Falls and granite cliffs that had us craning our necks. Fall was in full swing, and it was just above freezing. We stayed in a Curry Village tent with a few chilly drafts. Jero cocooned in his sleeping bag while the rest of us bundled up in wool blankets, hugging to keep warm. I took note of all the day hikes—an annual pass will bring us back. I was later reminded that 4th graders get in free. Doh.

• End of October = End of swimming? Feris was all smiles, convinced her swim season was over—until she learned swimming goes through the first week of December. She took the news hard. Sorry, Feris.

• Seen Transformers One? It’s surprisingly good. Even Feris gave it her rare “highly recommended” stamp of approval.

Thinking Out Loud

The Art of Returning

Feris just finished Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian. Her seventh time.

“Which read do you enjoy the most?” I asked.

“My second,” she replied. “By then, I know the plot well enough to catch details I missed the first time.”

I don’t have many experiences rereading books, always drawn toward what’s next, what’s new.

It makes me wonder: with experiences like revisiting a place, savoring a meal again, rewatching a film, or rereading a book, how much value is there the second—or seventh—time around? Are we meant to tick off life experiences like items on a bucket list, or is there a depth only revisiting can offer?

Don B., a reader of an early memoir draft, a regular of Purposefully Lost, and a follower on Strava, pointed out a gap in my writing. “With all the running you do daily, have you thought about including that? How does the routine and comfort of running buffer everything else in your life?”

Morning runs are my anchor. They offer routine and comfort, and for every adventurous trail I share, most of my miles are on familiar routes, kept to an unassuming zone 2 pace. It’s as if running gives me permission—a quiet freedom to color outside the lines in other parts of my life.

It makes me curious: Do you have any books, places, or experiences you return to again and again? What’s something you revisit that brings you new insights each time? Or are you more drawn to the thrill of something brand new?

On the Move

Run With Me on Strava - 63.04 mi, 2,963 ft (Year: 2,541 mi, 204,993 ft)

What’s on tap?

• Pacing the Berkeley Half Marathon on November 17

• Racing the Quad Dipsea on November 30 (my birthday)

• Signed up for the Woodside Ramble on December 21

Effort-based track workout – 20 minutes at a hard pace, followed by 6x1-minute intervals even harder. I’m going by effort these days, as I’m still a bit off my target splits.

This week, I got lazy. Strung together three mornings of mindless runs (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), covering 13+ miles, knowing we’d be in Yosemite over the weekend. It was also an excuse to dive into my audiobook, Holly by Stephen King, a crime thriller with psychological suspense. It sucked me in and made the miles fly by.

I managed a run in Yosemite Valley, though I overdressed: three layers, pants, buff, gloves, beanie—the works. I set off and found a fork in the trail. Left was the Mirror Lake loop; right, the Mist Trail. I chose left, because right would have taken me all day and I had to get back. Next time, I’ll tackle the Mist Trail. Usually, reaching the base of Half Dome takes 10 hours, but running, I imagine I could knock it out in a few hours. If Maricar gives me permission, next time.