In honor of the recent marathon that I somehow managed to sleep through again, and the fact that I’ve still got the Academy Awards on my mind, how about a quote from Mickey (played by Woody Allen in his film, “Hannah and her Sisters”) as he watches all those joggers passing by in Central Park - Look at all these poor people, trying to stave off the inevitable decay of their bodies.
It was funny in 1986, when the film came out. Now, 27 years later, maybe not so much, as that same decay has made itself right at home in what I once considered a pretty athletic physique. The reality hit me hard the other day as I decided to climb Pinnacle, but had to turn around before getting to the top. However the worst part wasn’t not being able to make it to the summit, although that was pretty bad; no, the worst part was the guy who was running up and down the mountain that same day, and who passed me like eight times, usually while I was sitting and panting. Lucky for him I wasn’t near the edge.
As long as we’re on running I’d better have one from the 1981 Best Picture, “Chariots of Fire” - Eric Liddell: I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure. That part still gives me goose bumps. Confessing that, I know what you now must think. Not true, but “not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
I guess I figure God made me for a purpose too, but he also made me slow. Maybe that’s so that someone who might know what that purpose is, won’t have to chase me very far to tell me what it is.
My pal Fred has run in a half marathon. He did it probably when he was close to 60, so the way I see it is there is plenty of time (tongue in decaying cheek).
Back in the late nineties was when Fred got the marathon bug. Being much less decayed then than I am now I told him I’d train with him. On my first day I ran a mile without ever throwing up, which filled me with confidence. I called Fred that evening and told him, “I think I can win this thing.” He’s never let me forget that one.
•••
The flu-like crud stuff that’s been floating around town, stopped long enough on my street to let Kathy and me know it had been there. What that’s done is give me a chance to catch up on some reading. I’ve got two books going - “Gone Girl” and “A Walk in the Woods.” The first is fiction about a guy who may or may not have killed his wife. Actually, she may not even be dead. It’s told from his point of view, which is tricky because I don’t know whether he’s guilty or not. Then every other chapter is an entry from the missing wife’s diary; pretty clever stuff.
The other book is nonfiction, written by Bill Bryson, whose wife I guess decided to kill him by letting him hike the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail. He takes along his out of shape boyhood friend named Katz. So far it’s hilarious.
When I finally finish these I’m going to read “The Ring of Truth,” by our own Judge Tim Fox. The Amazon synopsis on it reads - “It starts with a tough day in court—another tough day following five unlucky years for U.N. “Flash” Stephens, Attorney at Law.” Stay tuned.