Today, the solstice, I got up early and took the dogs for their morning walk, It was raining, as it has done a fair amount so far this season, and we all put on our fleece lined raincoats. It has become our ritual, and being unemployed, I do so gladly for them and for me.
When we came back, shed our wet coats and mopped up the floor, I donned my running gear and headed off for my Friday run. It was still raining and very sharply crisp. I seemed to be the only runner today, with a few stalwart walkers trekking around Lake Ralphine and Spring Lake. As I trucked up the second dam, the wind bit into me hard enough to slow my pace, sharp and cold. My view across the lake was dark and brown and I felt a little crazy, a little slow and a little old.
I run because it gives me a purpose and I run because I feel good doing so. I am not a fast runner but doing well for someone in my age range. Finding employment in my age range is much, much harder and that is even more of a reason to run. Cold, raining and windy. Kinda like my job search!
As I came into the home stretch, now soaked but feeling good, I gazed across Lake Ralphine as I always do to spot birds or a lone, red canoe anchored. My sights fell upon a lone, yellow slicker of a fisherman on the bank far across the lake. Another crazy human, like me, losing their blues by being outside in the cold, windy and raining solstice of this December. I am so glad to see that I am not alone.
