Writing Reality

A run I'd never attempted in over the 43 years I'd traveled up north, not even considering it. Last year I did a run up to the Trapp Family Lodge and back to Mountain Rd. Also, it was a run I'd never done until last year. So, for my over 12 mile run this morning a course I'd never attempted this path. So, I did the following this morning: I began at Mountain Rd. to Moscow Road to Trapp to S.Luce Hill Rd. to Haul Road to the Cabin ran down the muddy Chris Trail midway then back up to Haul Road then to S. Luce Hill Rd. to Moscow Rd. And to Mountain Rd. It was a rugged, rocky, lumpy, tree covered, no traffic trail for about 9 miles of the run. I saw Noone on the dirt and trails that I ran on, filled with patches of grass, rocks, and dirt. It rained as I climbed up the dirt and rock filled roadway/trail for 45 minutes of the first hour of the run.  On the return run it was a mostly steep downhill, I had to keep my body loose, my knees bent and jockey back and forth to avoid...

If you've ever seen the 1950 movie, "Harvey" with Jimmy Stewart playing Elwood. P. Dowd its a comedy-drama about a man who has a puca, named Harvey. Its an invisible 6'3" white rabbit, that he has as a friend. People think he's crazy, as he has these supposed imaginary conversations with "Harvey". I cannot remember the ending, for I saw it in the 1960s as a child.  This leads me to what the writer Mary Chase of the screenplay written in 1944, may have intended; however, it could be left up to the interpretation of the viewers. In my mind as a child, I didn't think talking to an imaginary friend was crazy. And I believe we all do this, even in our adult lives yet we don't usually tell anyone. At least, the older people I treated throughout my near 30 years of doing so did do this.  Some said, they would speak to their dead spouses. Women were more comfortable with it. I can say I am. In doing so, there is this near divine or sometimes divine ...

1977 Cross-country Garrett Mountain  Today marks my entering the 51st year of distance running... I've Raced over 500 events... Was told multiple times I shouldn't run long distance or at all... Birth defects: missing disc in my lower back was not discovered till age 30. I was told it was bad for my feet, especially my left foot. Left fibula was twisted on my talus. Doctor told my mother when I was nearing age 15, that if I stopped running by age 18 my heart would be okay.  I was told a couple times that because of heart murmur, an enlarged heart, defect in left ventricle I'd be dead if I ran a marathon in 1985 just after my 23rd birthday... I ran it anyway. I was told at age 21 after severe knee pains I'd never run again.8 months later I was back running. Both ankles had issues. My left constantly was sprained(20x),  I ran through most of that. They wanted to surgically remove the sesamoid bones in both big toes... I avoided what I felt was the problem causing the pain...

  After quitting my job at an organic supermarket late last year, I took two excursions to New England. One was within two weeks of my last day at the market, which was not planned. The next excursion had been planned seven months prior. Now that we no longer have pets and our children are in and out between college and whatnot, I wanted to treat myself to a lallygagging restful stay at a couple hotels in New England and just sleep, run, walk, hike, read, write and eat. Besides having started a new business in 2022 which wouldn’t account for much immediate income; I went back to work for other people in late 2024 and added a second part-time job in early 2025. This was to aid in the funds of taking time to help our oldest over two years move into two new housing and apartment units, as well as her graduating across the country in 2025. By my driving 3,000 miles one way I could bring supplies to her and save us both money. What ended up occurring on the second excursion up north w...

  The chicken sucked, a baby was crying, a granddad was being loud with his grandsons at a table nearby in the diner; however, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone out to eat with someone. Especially with a family member. Now, upon further reflection it was June 14 th , 2025, on the Santa Monica Blvd with our daughters and our eldest’s friend after her college graduation. And the food was beef and it was grand—$600 later and still perhaps the best food I’d ever had out. Back to the other night, I was having a meal with our youngest at an eatery of her selection. She was overly distracted, but I understood all the distractions they were fun, anxious and seemingly at top speed. Up until recently I’d been at top speed. Our oldest now has recognized that top speed isn’t always necessary; however, I warned her of the very thing I demonstrated back home to her throughout her childhood—intensity. I remarked, “Your dad was the exception in a spouse handling my intensity as a scienc...

Can we dream what we imagine? That was my thought last night as I lay in bed, only slightly fatigued from my training run and then the over 5 hours of shrub and lawn care amounting to over 22 miles of running and walking during the day. I wasn't mentally taxed as I'd been trying to revive the UltraRunner within me, once again. Yes, I had enough energy at 10:20pm last night to mentally imagine my ultimate peaceful presence with nature as some part of my future. I knew it would most likely be only an imagined dream in part of any future of any kind for me. So, I proceeded in my mind's eye to envision a sunny, yet partly cloudy day, late morning, spring-like, my sitting on our back deck. I wondered what would be with me. First thought was a big, black bear. I knew I'd have to provide some food to show him I was his friend who only wanted to sit beside him. I wondered if he'd let me stroke his fur. Would it be safe? Yet, I would not touch him as he would be eating the s...