A vicarious run around the block

No Pilates tonight. Work has been really hard this week. I really need a night of rest. I know some people who can go and go but every now and then I look forward to a night of just vegging out in front of the TV. Of course there's nothing on because of the writer's strike but I haven't watched TV in so long that re-runs are fine with me.

As I was turning into my neighborhood tonight I saw some very insensitive man running. Can you believe that! How arrogant to run by me when I'm hurt. And he's on MY sidewalk! Mr. 'Look at me run' was probably going to run east on Danforth past Ted's Mexican restaurant that always smells like sizzling Fajitas. Then he'll run past Aspen Fitness center and wonder how people can spend hours "inside" working out. Then Mr. 'Willie is worthless 'cause he can't run' will turn South on Bryant and run past the golf course with the cool fountain in the pond. Soon after that he'll pass the place where I took one fateful step last year and saw pain face-to-face. Then he'll have to cross 2nd street which is extremely busy but the geniuses who run this town can't afford to put a crossing light up. If he survives the dash-of-death across 2nd street he'll have to deal with the bump in the sidewalk which in this state is considered a major hill. It's downhill past the Lowe's and onto the wide, new sidewalk they just put in last fall. Run past Hafer park where I had my absent-minded 5K a few weeks ago and Mr. 'I'm great and Willie's not' will continue on to 15th street. Turn West and he'll pass the Starbucks that smells sssooo good and then the fish restaurant that doesn't. He'll have to cross the street here or he'll run out of sidewalk before he makes it to Broadway. Turn North on Broadway and it's up hill for about a mile. I hope he sufferers and has to walk. Downhill past the Catholic Church and he'll have to contend with a blind corner where it's very likely to get run over by a mom who's late taking her child to Catholic school (She's the one on her cell phone with a coffee in the other). Up hill again and Mr. 'I'm taking this run for granted' will reach 2nd street again. There's a crossing light here of course because the traffics not as bad (go figure). Cross the street and he's on a really cool brick sidewalk that's not as cool for your ankles. Get past this and he's on the homestretch. Reach the nursing home where the nice people always say Hi, and he'll get to Danforth again. Cross the street and he's exactly 1 mile from home. He'll probably pick up the pace just to rub it in my face. Turn into the neighborhood and he'll want to stand tall and try not to look like he's hurting because there are people around he knows. Maybe that mean dog on the corner of Washington will be out and bite this guy on the ankle! If not, he'll finish the last few yards in a dead sprint and be feeling great as he reaches his driveway. Then he'll stop his watch, look at his time and feel great that he has the ability to do such an amazing thing as run 6 miles, endorphins will be along soon and a nice hot shower. Jerk

Thanks for listening