Sunday, October 18, 2009

creating a new playlist

Sat on the porch this afternoon to watch the leaves fall. The sky was dark grey over the coast range, as expected, with the sun somehow making its way out to highlight our big leaf maple. A squirrel came by and sat on one of the limbs. We looked at each other for a while, and then he went on gathering whatever seeds and nuts he could find to prepare for the winter.

It felt like late in the cross-country season - when you're at a meet somewhere in the Alleghenies. Maybe it's raining, the generally brilliant poplars are sodden and brown, and you've walked the course and and have seen how it's covered in mud. You know you'll soon need to take the warm up suit off and strip down to those ridiculously small shorts and tank top. And though you're dreading the cold, there's enough anticipation in the air to make you excited to run the course. To have dried mud on your calves, soaking wet hair, and burst capillaries - evidence that you can handle whatever comes your way. You can handle it.