Sunday, February 15, 2009

Men in tights

I continued my weird running streak yesterday with an 8k in the snow. Ok, well, technically it had stopped snowing, but it was still blowing off the trees making it at least appear to be snowing. It was actually quite gorgeous. Very Norman Rockwell-esque. I kept waiting for santa to hand a coke to a small boy in suspenders.

That, surprisingly, did not happen. Instead of small boys in suspenders, there were tall skinny men wearing tights.

It's weird that the one place men can get away with wearing tights is running outside along the road. Well, that and a pride-fest parade.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. And also what would have been my dad's 60th birthday. I probably would have said something along the lines of "dude, you're OLD!" and I'm sure there would have been an equally smart reply. But wow - 60. He was 37 when he passed away and as sick as he was when he died, it's hard to imagine him as anything other than the vital, energized and exuberant man he was. I'm sure he'd still be kicking it on the tennis court, playing basketball and organizing everything for everyone.

Whenever events or reminders of my dad happen, it never fails that I hear Phil Collins "Take Me Home" at some point during the day. This was one of my dad's favorite songs and I remember asking my mom what the story was behind the song a few years after he died. She told me that there was one day where she was walking with him in the hospital and as they passed the nurses station this song was playing. He stopped and asked my mom to wait so he could listen to the song finish. I would guess that was his theme song - maybe even his fight song - during those long stays.

Sure enough - I heard that song yesterday enjoying some beers with friends at Mo's Irish Pub. I'm guessing my dad was pretty proud of my 8k time ... Or more likely - he was thinking I should have ran faster ;)

but hey - 43:10, ya know, not bad ... but I probably will be faster next time.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

you BETTER be faster next time........or else!! ;)