Sunday morning, early, 5:40 am. Out the door.
Temperature: 78° F. Humidity? 1 zillion, and climbing. Visibility? Fair. Mist rises from the earth, still absorbing the 3 am deluge – one very large compost pile. It’s August in the Connecticut rainforest, and I run. This should be corrected, I used to run. Now I lean forward and move my feet hoping not to take a header. I’m 1/2 mile in, all exposed body parts glisten with a high sheen…and the rest are feelin’ Heavy. I flip my music player to Counting Crows and The Rain King. Yes, if you’ve followed along with me on this blog, this song and its reference would be a repeat. You get old, you repeat sh*t. That’s how it goes.
….When I think of heaven, (Deliver me in a black-winged bird) I think of flying…
I triple click the up volume arrow, Rain King is boomin’ into the earbuds. The tech gremlin pipes in a warning: “Sir, you can sustain ear damage at high volumes.” Honey, no worries, there’s ain’t nothing up there will be damaged.
I round the corner and approach a steep incline. You’re Usain Bolt. You’re a Kenyan. You’re in Rio. You’re amazing!
I take off.
Legs are burning. Thighs tighten up. I shorten the steps. Get to the top. Get to the top.
….When I think of heaven, (Deliver me in a black-winged bird) I think of flying…
I’m 25 yards from the top, and here it comes – over the top of The Rain King, drowning out the lyrics.
yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp
and then again. (I turn off the music.)
yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp
and then again,
yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp, yawp
I stop 10 yards short of top.
I look over a fence and there he is, stutter stepping and strutting in full regalia.
Pursued by a Wild Turkey. Wow.
Time Check: 4 miles. 38.3 minutes.
Nap Time.
Notes:
- Photography: Common Raven, photographed in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada by Colleen Gara. Source: MyModernMet 2016 Audubon Photo Awards
- Related Posts: Running Series
Running, with flight envy. I remember. 💘
LikeLiked by 1 person
And envy over a slew of other things. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Usain Bolt would have stopped short of the finish line too – gaping in awe…😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gaping, I’m certain. In awe, not so much.
LikeLike
I had a feeling there was going to be some crazy ending to this story… lololololol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing. And no crazy woman picture to boot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am huffing and puffing just reading this. :o)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Simpatico.
LikeLike
I love Counting Crows – Rain King, Mr. Jones and Round Here being favorites. Now I have to go listen to them.;) With your running time you are Usain Bolt compared to my 11:30 min. miles. Keep up the fulfilling writing and running David. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling. I’m a huge CC fan. Thanks for the kind words Brenda. Appreciate it.
LikeLike
Seeing the photo I did think of the woman from the early morning train platform, like a crow…/// I smiled when you mentioned the wild turkey. It took me back a few day, to the time when I watched three darling young neighbor boys, hop out of the pickup and with joy they all in unisum started to run, their long, shining black hair in ponytails in flight, as they were yelling gobble gobble, in delight… they had the flock of turkeys on the run…running free in the summer sunshine the boys and the turkeys…so glad I happened to be outside at that moment 🙂 /// The deer and the turkeys love the dropped apples from the gift of the wild trees. // /In my minds eye, I can see you, stopped, breathless, your eyes full of wonder, smiling, half shaking your head, back and forth amazed at the wonder of the Big Tom “strutting in full regalia.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling. Nothing like the sound of a turkey call.
LikeLike
Ha, I have a friend who’s husband makes wooden turkey callers., for those who hunt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
PS: so happy for you that you had to opportunity to see such a wonder..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. It is a wonder Christie.
LikeLike
Sometimes Nature gives us instant messages — process and move forward, I always say…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll take THAT Claudia.
LikeLike
Don’t care who (or what) is propelling you, pal, just love it when you run….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwwww. Thanks Lori.
LikeLike
‘the birds’ !
LikeLiked by 1 person
The birds! The birds!
LikeLike
Imagine me jumping up and down on the “like” button.
Crows are one harbinger of death. I think I’m glad you got Turkey instead, but I’ll get back to you on that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wows. I did not know that crows were harbinger of that. Next time sparrows.
LikeLike
And I’m still smiling at envisioning you jumping up and down on Line button. What’s Henry thinking of THAT?
LikeLike
Okay. Turkey is all about Abundance, contentment and well-being. Hmm. An abundance of sweat, maybe. Otherwise, I think he was shooting one across your bow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing. We’re going with THAT.
LikeLike
Love it! Usain Bolt wannabe and a wild turkey. Nothing beats THAT.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing. True!
LikeLiked by 1 person