Thank You, Boston- Thank You Mother Earth

 The elite women start first, after the intrepid wheelchair racers.  I couldn't believe my luck:  I found the marathon live-streaming, and as I worked at my desk,  I had the marathon LIVE in real-time, on the tiny screen of my phone, in front of me.

Shalane Flanagan looked great;  she set a fast pace for the women.  But somehow after the mid-way mark, I lost track of her during the business of the unit, and when I got back to it,  Jeptoo,  last year's winner, was out ahead.  Jeptoo with that crazy running style, arms that seem to fly around her,  legs that eat the distance in a record pace....when she crossed the finish I could feel her joy and relief;  2 back to back wins!

Meanwhile,  my man Meb, soon to turn 39 and old for a marathoner, stayed true to his mission:  start strong and stay in the lead...which he did mile after amazing mile....not only that but at one point putting more than a minute between him and everyone else trying to catch him, including Ryan Hall.
Meb was a study in grace and beauty;  straight up,  relaxed,  seeming to glide off the pavement, the hills, whatever the course offered.  Meb had been close to wins before.  Clearly,  despite the attempts of the 2nd man closing in on him,  he was going to cross that line in front.  I cheered, I shared;  I'm sure my staff thought I was a little nuts.  For an hour or so I forgot about work and desks and clients.  I was a runner celebrating big wins!!

When I ran on Sunday, I took the big Griffin loop and forgot the stores would be closed for Easter.  So I ran it all in one long lazy stretch, reveling in the beautiful cool temps and quiet streets,  feeling tired but full of hope and anticipation for the Boston runners.  When you are a turtle,  a wanna-be, and all your heroes are great athletes,  you must not compare yourself too much.  Watching elite runners fulfill my own fantasies of flight on foot was enough.  I was filled with my own joyous passion! 

Tonight,  after work,  I made sure to honor Mother Earth day with a beautiful little out and back,  basking in the strong sun contrasting with just a hint of coolness to the air, as we sink into the evening hours.  Everything is in motion.  It's enough to keep pace with whatever life asks of us,  on our slow days or at the height of our racing powers, with full steam ahead!  For once I can just enjoy the journey to wherever I happen to be going.

With Her.  Our Mother, Gaia. 

Mile by Mile, the Road Rolls On

The eve of Pesach,  the lunar eclipse and the anniversary of the Boston marathon bombing brought a strange significance to the skies.  Lately it seems as if pearly luminescence is dripping through the filaments of clouds in creative chaos.  It seemed a miracle that despite the stormy weather hovering around, there would be clear skies for eclipse viewing

So my night began early and was punctuated by a distinct dimming in moonlight through the back windows, telling me it was time.  Stiff legged from my 3 day running stretch, I stumbled around for my clothes even though I'd set them out....grabbed the phone/camera and started on the back porch- another miracle, for there was the moon,  perched right in my eye-line, hung like a pearl with the diamond stars glittering around.  And best of all, in the background I could hear the hoot hoot of the little burrowing owl, who apparently roosts at night in the tree, singing. 

When I realized the eclipse was in full swing,  I took off downstairs and planted myself in the middle of the common area,  the owl in her tree just to my right, the moon straight above, showing its rusty red as it continued to dim lower.

I was surrounded by apartment buildings and security lights, and everywhere I felt the press of people unaware of it all.  If I looked only up,  it was easy to imagine my proximity to all this heavenly beauty,  up close, swinging with the stars between the forces of planetary impulses, and the leveling plane of solar opposition:  enough to drown out the whole moon.

It was the color of menstrual blood, a rich rusty red.  The rush of primal understanding was below words.  And I liked it that way.  I haven't written here very consistently lately.  The move is underway!! and as so much continues to reveal and situate itself,  my ability to take it mile by mile is paying off big time.  I stood in the yard last night and felt a sweet nostalgia for the length of time it has taken us to get here;  this strange Cosmic pivot point, turning point,  while feeling that very soon,  whatever is about to take place is more wondrous than anything we could imagine.

Suddenly I am ok not trying to find the words.  Sometimes its ok to just go with the flow, and take it mile by mile- tonight I ran through the storms,  but another day its clear skies all the way.  the Road Rolls on.