enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

summer story number one.

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When I was about four or five, I remember measuring summers by the number of scabs and scars on my knees. I remember thinking "I fell down nine times this summer." I also remember loosing track of all the big tear-jerking tumbles I took down the driveway. I had scrapes on top of scrapes and they all represented that I had spent time outside after the long Minnesota* winters. And then I grew up. And spent many, many summers without knee scrapes, scabs or band-aids. Then today, on Front and Grape, I wiped out hard on a run. I stood up, embarrassed and shaky, and cried all the way home. I cleaned and bandaged my new someday-scar and remembered all those little girl summers where it was all worth it, just to be outside.

*yep, we lived in MN until 1992 when my dad's job brought us out to California.

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22 responses to “summer story number one.”

  1. donya Avatar
    donya

    I can totally relate (being a native Minnesotan as well), and I am back to having some scrapes this summer, but for me it’s bc I’m running after and trying to keep up with my little boy. Definitely brings back memories of being outside as a kid myself. 🙂 Great story, Elise!

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  2. Larissa Avatar
    Larissa

    My knees are scarred and bruised from many many summers on rollar blades or bikes and then many many winters on ice skates. They look terrible.
    On the plus side, you have cute shoes! I want!

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  3. Jill Avatar
    Jill

    Yay Minnesota summers (and winters, ‘tho I know you’re not a fan of cold winters 😉 I have lots of scars on my knees from summers, too. The good kind of battle scars 🙂

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  4. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    Ouch!! Probably going to sting for a few days.
    Another Minnesotan here. We are having a cold, wet spring. Enjoy California!

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  5. amanda Avatar
    amanda

    Oh man that sucks. I totally wiped out last summer while jogging down to my local thrift. Of course I was too proud and determined to go home, so I ended up hobbling around the store trying to console myself with $5 dresses while I choked back tears. To make it all worse, the fall-of-the-century happened right in front of a bunch of porch-dwelling frat boys. Yeah, good times right? : ) I have a pretty gnarly scar to show for it, too.

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  6. Kelly Cree Avatar
    Kelly Cree

    Don’t stop running! You look amazing and your body loves the exercise. Proud of you for running home…I would have sat down on the curb and called a cab (or my husband)!

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  7. ihilani Avatar
    ihilani

    You go girl! Sometimes I think my life is a little too safe and sterile.

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  8. kristy.lynn Avatar
    kristy.lynn

    i feel you. i’m not a runner, & i’m not much of a wipeout artist… but a few years ago i was hustling through times square, trying desperately to get a mtv shirt for my reality-tv-obsessed bff before i left, in the pouring rain. i was wearing a pair of flip flops & as i was walking i took a step to the side to move out of the way of some tour group & stepped onto a marbled entrance way to a building and slipped landing square on my butt with what felt like half of new york watching. it hurt so badly i could barely manage to get myself, my umbrella, my camera bag, & my pride up off the walk as people just stared at me. thankfully, the rain hid my tears. i walked a little slower after that, making it fall-free to the mtv store. where i promptly fell on my butt again after entering the store.

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  9. breanne Avatar
    breanne

    battle scars 😉
    (and i’m dying to see the rest of that skirt. it looks too cute!!)

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  10. Robyn :) Avatar
    Robyn :)

    Oh yikees!! Hope it doesn’t hurt too much!!
    The last scrape I got was this past winter. I slipped on the salt they put down to prevent slips on icy walks. Yes, I did not slip on the ice, but on the stuff used to PREVENT a fall LOL. I have a nice scar for summer 🙂

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  11. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    oh man. I hear you on that one too. I fell down the steps (those weird bleacher ones) in Times Square on Christmas Eve. What is with Times Square and wipeouts?

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  12. Marie Avatar
    Marie

    Funny how many Minnesotans read your blog… 🙂 I didn’t grow up there, but I was born there, and have experienced my fair share of Midwestern winters!
    I definitely fell flat on my butt during an exercise class this weekend. I am still icing my poor foot! My mom was trying to console me by saying that even professional ice skaters fall down, which is so true. It happens to everyone!

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  13. creole wisdom Avatar
    creole wisdom

    I’ve always been curious about your time spent in good old MN. If you’re comfortable sharing, where did you live/grow up before heading out west? We sure do have long winters, but I think our beautiful summers and falls make up for it 🙂 It was a great place to grow up as a kid and a nice place to live as an adult, too. I guess I’m a little partial.
    And your legs look fierce!

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  14. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    we lived in St. Paul by Como Lake. I love Minnesota, but know I am a California girl forever and ever now. Seriously though – amazing state.

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  15. Laney Avatar
    Laney

    I also cry when I fall down, with the shaking too, and it makes me feel like such a baby! I’m glad to see I’m not the only one!

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  16. Molly Irwin Avatar
    Molly Irwin

    I do love a good story that comes full circle.

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  17. SmilynStef Avatar
    SmilynStef

    I too measured my summers by bruises, scrapes, and scars … I still wear a few badges of honor from some particularly painful tumbles.

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  18. Leeann Avatar
    Leeann

    I have those exact shoes, I love them.

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  19. Sara S. Avatar
    Sara S.

    Minnesota and those of us still living here do miss you! Come back for a visit one day. I remember all of those scrapes on your knees. I may have even been babysitting you for a couple of them.
    I was running two summers ago when I saw an albino squirrel and thought, “what a cute squirrel” and went flat out on my face, knees and hands in front of two men who were sitting out on chairs talking. I was mortified and my body really hurt. I still have a couple of pretty scars from this run.

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  20. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    ouch! I miss you too! And Ill be back. maybe next summer?

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  21. Sara S. Avatar
    Sara S.

    I would love to see you. Next summer I will have a 1 year old, God willing. Maybe you will be incubating a baby then. 🙂

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  22. Amy E. Avatar
    Amy E.

    Found your blog via one-pretty-thing (your triangle quilt tutorial caught my eye). i continued cruising around and found your running section. your one-mile-a-day post will (hopefully) inspire me to do the same this year. and this particular post will likely keep me coming back for more (being a MN transplanted to FL myself)! looking forward to reading more about you and your adventures!

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