Team Captain

/ Tracy Abell

The LJ Goddesses are smiling down on me today, allowing me to finally post these photos in honor of linbinwriter.  You see, Linda is the captain of Team Vinca.  In May of 2007 I posted a plea for good thoughts as I ran the Bolder Boulder 10k and I was humbled by the responses.  Linda let me know she’d be wearing her Team Vinca t-shirt in honor of my race.  I don’t think she knows how important that image was to me as I struggled to finish the race but I thought about it as I huffed and puffed along the course, and it motivated me to keep going.  Fast forward to May 2008 when I needed another round of good thoughts for the race.  Linda promised to wear her Team Vinca shirt again.  And again, that image helped carry me across the finish line. 

So imagine my joy when I opened a package a couple weeks ago and discovered this shirt (look closely for the tiny vinca blossoms drawn around the letters):

But the shirt isn’t just about Team Vinca and my running support network, it’s also a call-out to the Denver Cycle Sluts who raised money for the weekly spaghetti dinner for the homeless.  Go Sluts!

As for Venn Diagrams?  Linda is humoring me because she knows I like them and like saying the words aloud: Venn Diagrams!

But it wasn’t just this great handmade t-shirt in the package.  Linda also wrote the most beautiful, kind note to me regarding running and writing.  And the timing could not have been better.  I was suffering a crisis of confidence (on several fronts) that day but when I read the words penned by a writer friend many miles away, I cried tears of gratitude.

I’m very fortunate to have your support and camaraderie, Linda.  Thanks so much for being my friend and the captain of my team.  

                   

36 thoughts on “Team Captain”

    • Isn’t it the best? I got to spend time with Linda when she was here with her family in August, and jokingly said I was surprised she wasn’t wearing a GO SLUTS! t-shirt. And that’s when she confessed she’d made a shirt but had forgotten to pack it. It was the best surprise!

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  4. OK, now I’m crying. I’ve had a week of feeling the loneliness of being left behind as my kids start new experiences; my writing has not befriended me. It means so much you made such an heroic effort to share this with me.
    After years of feeling like I’d never be selected an any team, I’m honored to captain this one. Go Team Vinca! Go Sluts! (you knew I had to).

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  5. OK, now I’m crying. I’ve had a week of feeling the loneliness of being left behind as my kids start new experiences; my writing has not befriended me. It means so much you made such an heroic effort to share this with me.

    After years of feeling like I’d never be selected an any team, I’m honored to captain this one. Go Team Vinca! Go Sluts! (you knew I had to).

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  6. You’re here! And now I’m thinking the universe knew what it was doing by delaying my ability to post my thanks because you needed this today, just as I needed your package and letter then.

    I’m sorry you’re having a hard time transitioning back into the school year and back into your writing, and want you to know I’m here to yell GO SLUTS! and other suitable phrases if that’ll help get you pointed in the right direction again. I’m on your team, too, Linda.

    Thank you again.

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  11. Thank you so much for sharing this.
    Very cool to see how special things happen to inspire us… when we least expect it.
    Linbin (known as Lint Ninny in these circles*) shows her artistic/creative side!
    YAY!
    Banana Cakes
    *super secret Linda nick name!

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    • Lint Ninny! I had no idea! And you’re Banana Cakes. Wow. So many cool names attached to groovy creative writer friends.
      Thanks for stopping by to share in the celebration of LINT NINNY!

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  12. Thank you so much for sharing this.

    Very cool to see how special things happen to inspire us… when we least expect it.

    Linbin (known as Lint Ninny in these circles*) shows her artistic/creative side!
    YAY!

    Banana Cakes

    *super secret Linda nick name!

    Like

  16. Lint Ninny! I had no idea! And you’re Banana Cakes. Wow. So many cool names attached to groovy creative writer friends.

    Thanks for stopping by to share in the celebration of LINT NINNY!

    Like

  17. I’m also thinking of framing it because I know people do that with shirts. That way I can see it without standing in front of a mirror.

    BTW, I’ve got SAMANTHA on my book-buy list!

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