John F Kennedy Memorial and Assassination Site

John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States.  He was elected president in 1961 and was assassinated on November 22, 1963 as his motorcade drove past Dealey Plaza on Elm Street in Dallas, Texas.  He was shot twice.  One bullet went through his back and throat and a second bullet hit him fatally in the head.  There are countless theories about how the assassination took place.

Before leaving Dallas, we stopped at the John F. Kennedy memorial and assassination site.  President Kennedy was assassinated before Johnnie and I were born.  However, this is a very well known historical event and we've both heard stories from people who were alive when it happened so it was certainly a remarkable place to visit.

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza

Engraved at the memorial:  "The joy and excitement of John Fitzgerald Kennedy's life belonged to all men.  So did the pain and sorrow of his death.  When he died on November 22, 1963, shock and agony touched human conscience throughout the world.  In Dallas, Texas, there was a special sorrow.  The young President died in Dallas.  The death bullets were fired 200 yards west of this site.  This memorial, designed by Philip Johnson, was erected by the people of Dallas.  Thousands of citizens contributed support, money and effort.  It is not a memorial to the pain and sorrow of death, but stands as a permanent tribute to the joy and excitement of one man's life.  John Fitzgerald Kennedy's life."

A view of Elm street assassination site and the "grassy knoll"

photo source

photo source

Looking down Elm Street toward the assassination site

There are two X's on the road marking where the president was when he was shot.

It is believed that Lee Harvey Oswald is the man who shot the president.  He was perched in a corner window on the sixth floor of the the Book Depository Building.  Some researchers believe that there was a second shooter located on the "grassy knoll" in the Dealey Plaza.

The Sixth Floor Museum and a gift shop are located in the Book Depository Building.  There was a long line for the museum and we had a long drive ahead of us so we didn't go up to it.  We did, however, walk through the gift shop which can be entered from the rear of the building.  There are souvenirs such as books, t-shirts, and replicas of the newspapers that announced President Kennedy's death.

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"We must find time to stop and thank the people

who make a difference in our lives."

~John F. Kennedy

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

There may be no better way to celebrate the accomplishment of running a 13.1 mile race than by attending a professional baseball game.  After our half marathon, we all headed to the BallPark in Arlington to watch the Texas Rangers play the Seattle Mariners.  The ballpark was impressive and beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a nicer day!

Being that Johnnie is from Seattle, we are definitely Mariners fans.  Unfortunately this game wasn't the best that the Mariners played.  Luckily for us, the bacon-wrapped hot dogs and cold draft beers kept smiles on our faces despite the Rangers beating the Mariners in a 12-5 victory.  That's right... I said bacon-wrapped hot dogs :)

Happiness is sunshine, good friends, and cold beer :)

We may have been the only Mariners fans in the ballpark :)

Whenever the Texas Rangers hit a home run, fireworks were set off and the song from the movie "The Natural" was played.  It was a pretty inspirational sight to see!  The Rangers had four home runs, including one grand slam.

The highlight of the game for all of us was when Johnnie caught a Texas line-drive home run ball! Technically he didn't catch it, he simply stopped it with one hand while holding (and not spilling) a beer in the other ;)  Being a Mariners fan, he decided to give the ball to a young Rangers fan sitting behind us.

The game was an attendance record for the season!

Texas set a franchise record for season attendance with 2,946,949 in it's 51st season.

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"Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

At the old ball game."

~Jack Norworth

Heels and Hills and Him Half Marathon

I am a runner and I'm proud to announce that I just ran my 4th half marathon!  I wrote about how I became a runner in a July post.  Running is something that I now enjoy and will continue doing as long as I am able.

My friend, Laura, and I ran many races together last year, including a half marathon in Virginia Beach.  After that race we decided to get together every year and run a half marathon in a different state.  Since then, the Air Force has taken us in different directions.  This yearly race is really a promise to keep in shape, keep running, and keep in touch with each other no matter where we are in the world.

This year we met in Dallas, Texas for the Heels and Hills and Him Half Marathon on September 25.  We each talked another friend into joining us which made the weekend and the race even better!   We hung out in Dallas on Friday and Saturday before running the race on Sunday.  I loved seeing my friends again in person!  (Facebook is nice but just not the same.)  We are certainly blessed that we could all get away for a few days to talk, laugh, and run together.  It was amazing!

Johnnie flew from Korea and met us in Dallas.  He was kind enough to wake up early and be our photographer at the start and finish of the race.  I loved that he was there to cheer us on!

The race course was an out-and-back path that finished in the same spot that it started from.  The course was flat and a good part of it was on a beautiful paved recreational trail through the woods.  There were only 457 people who ran the half marathon so it wasn't overly crowded.  There were some "cheerleaders" along the race course encouraging the runners and there were drink stations every few miles.  There was free food and drinks at the end of the race.  Overall, it was a very nice race that I would recommend running.

Early morning and pumped up for the race!  And yes, we coordinated our outfits :)

Ready to run :)

Checking the iPods...

Our PaceTats!  These temporary tattoos list what your time should be at each mile.  They are great for keeping pace during the race and keeping track of how you're doing!  We chose to aim for 2:45:00 for this race which is what Laura and I ran last year.  These PaceTats are available at www.pacetat.com

Our race numbers had our first names on them!

We picked our spot in line and waited for the race to begin.

And waited and waited...

And we're off!  ...as soon as the people in front of us start running, that is :)

There was one spot along the race course (other than the finish line) with professional sports photographers taking pictures of the runners.  We were well over half way at this point and still running strong.  And still smiling!

Renee and I crossed the finish line together at 2:36:18.  Our other friends weren't too far behind!

Our "Finishers" photo!

Back at the hotel, ready to relax and refuel.

The finisher medal for the race.

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"If you want to win something, run 100 meters.

If you want to experience something, run a (half) marathon."

~Emil Zatopek