I have always had an affinity for numbers.
One of my favorite aspects of coaching was watching my team workout or race, time them on their intervals or race, and then spend hours examining and organizing and reading the numbers!!! My first husband Eric would often greet me at the end of his workday with, “there you are with your numbers again”.
What is funny about this is I really struggled as a math student. I had a hard time remaining focused. Perhaps it is the rote memorization part that really got me. Although I could at least make sense of that. I had to create a reality for the numbers, oooorrrrr experience “a reality” and describe it with numbers.
Math is the one language that is understandable by all the spoken ones.
Growing up there were the numbers 7 and 11. As I aged and lived it became about manipulating the numbers to get what you wanted from them. Most of my numbers are a record of something physical I did. A race had a time. That time had splits which told the story of the race.
CrossFit has workouts that are measured with time as well, and it also measures with the weight lifted. Time is used to organize and structure workouts, which creates another layer of communication with numbers.
Why 13 belongs to Molly now
So, what’s with the Lucky 13 title you ask?
Since Molly died at age 13 it has become my go to number. But it has held a space in my life for a long time. I got married to Kenny on Friday the 13th under a full moon. The date made the day soooooo much better.
I love the word triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of the number 13. As a child I looked forward to Friday the 13th. I would dress funny, or make jokes about it all day long, or purposefully do things that were considered bad luck, like opening an umbrella inside.
Now it is all about Molly.
Season thirteen and what comes next
I am ending my 12th podcast season. Which means I am starting Season 13. I love doing The Podcast, well, not enough to actually create a daily routine that lets me prioritize it. I am skipping a field trip with Jack to work my way through a list of tasks specific to the podcast, blog and MollyB Foundation.
Self-sabotage at work right here.
I have decided Season Thirteen will be the last season of The Podcast. I have not decided if I will quit the effort altogether or just rearrange a bit. I do know that I spend a good deal of money creating it and my listenership is as low as ever. I have my dedicated fans, but they are quiet, and I do not get a lot of comments or likes or follows so I remain out of the algorithm loop.
In MollyB the Musical my ex-friend Robyn did a number she called “Thirteen Beautiful Things” She invited 13 people who were connected to Molly to get up on stage and share stories and memories. It was wonderful.
So, season thirteen will have 13 episodes, which will bring me close to the five year anniversary of A Thousand Tiny Steps. My hope is that the next 13 episodes will guide me to the next steps.
A podcast with a different name?
A YouTube channel with shorts and lives?
More organized and frequent blogging?
BarbFit/Hyrox/Running
The Mind Body Spirit of Fitness
I do not know. Here are the seasons I have completed. I wonder where I will go next.
Season 1 Jack
Season 2 Molly
Season 3 Trauma
Season 4 Being a Mom
Season 5 Life Before Kids
Season 6 Life in High School
Season 7 The Perfect Storm
Season 8 The Year of Living Dangerously
Season 9 Breathing Underwater
Season 10 Season of Lies
Season 11 Season of Guests
Season 12 Spilling the Tea
Season 13 To Be Announced!!
I certainly have a lot to talk about, as well as some stories to flesh out and finish telling.
In the spirit of Molly never really getting to be 13, and never really getting to be a teenager, I will create something gawky and awkward that will engage you with its smells and stumbles, with it’s missteps and verbal outbursts. You will embrace it, you will pity it, you will support it and help it grow.
(Do you get my analogous metaphor here?) I am emerging from child to teen to grown up.
Let’s see how it goes!
