It’s going to be a great year, can’t you just feel it?! I sure can, and I’m excited to kick off RFM’s tenth year with this super-sized issue, dedicated to keeping our families healthy in the coming year and beyond. Instead of New Year’s resolutions, we have lots of useful New Year’s reminders in this issue that will serve us all well. I don’t usually advocate ripping up our gorgeous labor of love, but as I read through this issue, there are several pages I want everyone to keep for future reference.
First up, be sure to read Katherine Wintsch’s parenting reminder for us on page 18. Not to spoil it, but any article that includes the sentence, “Put that in your muffin top and smoke it” must be a good read, right? Another favorite in this issue is Melissa Face’s reminder that we have to take care of our own bodies if we’re going to be in any shape to care for our kids. You’ll find that on page 52, along with her ten tips for a healthier 2019. And here’s a tip from me: If you’re not sure when you had your last annual checkup, give your doc a call to find out. I called mine and said, “I think it’s probably time for my annual checkup,” to which the scheduler replied, “Your last visit was December 2015.” “Did you say fifteen… one, five?!” “Yes, ma’am, December of 2015.” “Well, I know I’ve had a mammogram more recently!” I fired back. “No ma’am, that was December of 2015 also, same day.” Boy, time really does fly! I still can’t believe it had been that long, so take it from me, if you can’t quite remember when you last visited the doc, it’s probably much longer ago than you think. Make the call; get the checkup.
We’re going to give you lots of ways to stay active with us in 2019, as we form RFM teams in many of the runs and walks (okay, who am I kidding, we’re just walking!) we sponsor all over RVA throughout the year. Our first 5K of 2019 is right up my alley – it starts at noon! Join us at Keep Virginia Beautiful’s Shiver in the River on Saturday, February 23, at Historic Tredegar. The fun kicks off with a community cleanup at ten in the morning (they even give you those fun grabbers!), then the prettiest 5K in town, along the banks of the James River, at noon. Register by February 21 to get a t-shirt, and they are even throwing in a complimentary beverage ticket as part of your registration. Cheers to that! If you raise $75 or more and are at least thirteen, you can participate in the epic James River Jump at one-thirty that afternoon. Even if you don’t venture into the river, it’s a blast to watch, and the celebration festival lasts all afternoon, with live music, food, drinks, and a heated tent. We’d love to have you join Team RFM, or you can form your own team – just head to shiverintheriver.com to get signed up. And be on the lookout for other ways to join us as we get fit and give back in 2019.
In preparing this issue for you, one of our eagle-eyed proofreaders commented, “I know why it takes me so long to do this job – there are always so many good ideas I end up writing down, looking up, and thinking about as I read it!” That’s what we like to hear!
From all of us at RFM, Happy New Year! Here’s hoping this issue helps your 2019 get off to a great start.
