Super [will] Power

Intrepid Rose came home from school yesterday (Thursday) determined to run a mile because the weather was finally nice enough for shorts and the wind was finally blowing elsewhere. She flitted inside, discarded her backpack, and exchanged her pants for shorts and school shoes for purple Keen sandals. After inquiring how many laps around the driveway made a mile (eight), she disappeared out the side door with a flash of her long blonde braids. I was curious how far she'd get in her mile-quest, because she hadn't run much at all in months and months, cooped up for winter. A few minutes later, a flash of movement out the window caught my eye. I saw Rose, still happily jogging along our gravel driveway with her braids bouncing. I went outside to cheer her on her last couple of laps. (note for the forgetful: our driveway circles our house, creating a perfect 1/8 mile gravel loop)

As she trotted past me, she held up six fingers and exclaimed in her enthusiastic Rose way, "look, I'm counting--only two more laps to go!" She added another finger every lap. When the mile was complete, she walked over to me with her rosy cheeks shining with a big satisfied smile, panting slightly. I want to practice writing dialogue, so:

"Did you run the entire time without stopping?" I asked.

Rose's smile widened and she replied "Yes!" in a tone implying that stopping mid-run was beneath her dignity.

"Wow, Rose," I marveled, "That is some good running." Rose preened and glowed.

Then I pushed her on the rope swing until she was squealing "I'm as high as the clouds way up in the skyyyyy!"

Rose has such a big wide-open soul! She gives her whole heart to everyone she loves and to everything she makes up her mind to do. Her willpower is superhuman. If she decides to DO something, she throws her entire being into accomplishing that thing, whether it's figuring out how to put her hair into a ponytail, reading a book, or running a mile. All other considerations fade away and she applies her determined focus until she finishes her goal. It can be dizzying to witness, and I know better than to cross swords with her directly when she's on a Quest.

Today (Friday), Rose came home from school all pumped up to run another mile. She changed her clothes and began her eight laps, counting on her fingers again just like yesterday. To satisfy my curiosity, I started a stopwatch on the sly and cheered Rose on through the open window. She ran a mile in 11:12 like it was no big deal, wearing clunky heavy Keen sandals.

I'm starting to wonder if there's anything Rose can't do with her super willpower.

 That view is why I can run 32 driveway laps and not get bored.

It is so easy to love the world on a beautiful spring day! 

 Victory!

 Recovery.

 Rose swingin' in the sunshine: this week's definition of happiness.