4:40 pm

Had a hangout session with an old friend.  He went grocery shopping with me and then we got some Ramen-Ya.  It’s jaw dropping how much traffic is on this side of town.  Seems like traffic is distinct in different parts of town.  Distinct but a constant.  Good time to be alone or think things through.  Anyway, I got back around 4:40pm.  Restaurant stuff to do.  My friend asked me if I wanted to run.  I said yes, but have too many things to do.  I got home stood at the door way and grabbed my Vibram’s and went to run.  No watch, my ironman needs a new battery.  Thinking I might get one that keeps track of mileage.  But I tend to like the unknown of running without a watch.  I  listen to my body better and turn back for home  before I hit a wall. During the run I thought about earlier that day.  I was sitting at the door way staring out wondering, What am I doing here!?.  So much to see, so many to meet, so much I can do to make a difference.  I got a bit sad.  Frustrated.  I looked up a man was down on his face in the middle of the street.  People just drove by.  Whiz!  This intersection is crazy during that time of day.  Brentwood can be a bit self -entitled.  Thus the driving is fittingly selfish.  Eric and I ran out to see what the problem was.  Mike, later known to us, had fallen and was unable to get back up due to cerebral palsy.  It’s funny how we make connections to others at our most vulnerable moments.  As Eric and helped Mike to his feet, Mike keep saying he was OK.  The gushing gash on his head said something different.  We brought him in cleaned him up with our First Aid Kit.  I felt weird watching this man fight so hard for his dignity.  His mind was still sharp and full of energy.  But the body holds him back.  Mike continued to thank us a thousand more times and he promised to come back with his wife.  Jump.  In the evening Mike came back with his wife.  The gash on his head looked more like a bad bump by now.  He seemed to be in good  spirits.  We spoke briefly, I didn’t want to embarrass him in any way so I just stuck to the basic food chat.  If I suddenly needed to depend on others for basic physical tasks, it would definitely have an affect on me.  I’m not sure if it would be a good one.   This morning Eric asked me how I felt when Mike came back.  I said I didn’t feel anything emotionally.  Actually I felt nothing.  It seemed peculiar  he came back the same night, other than that I felt nothing.  However, I did think about what drove him to come back the same night.  Was it to thank us for helping him?  Was is it to pay us back with patronage?  Was is it to show us he was a somebody?  The answer my gut tells me is that.  Although he can’t control his body anymore, what he can control is his integrity, his word.  Our bodies will all slow down.  However, our integrity can grow stronger everyday.  So Mike puts his energy into the things he can control.  At first I felt sorry for Mike.  Now I look up to him.  He’s a stronger man than me.   I was thinking how simple it was to never come back.  How much effort on his part it was to come back.  I hope to get to know Mike more.  He seems like he someone I can learn from.  We briefly spoke about Hawaii and how much he loved to surf before his body started to slow.  At least we got that as a starting point.

ADIOS

Customer told me about a trail …I’m going for a Run.

“Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own.”

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