Scenes from a Sunday Morning Run

It was a crappy run, from any training standpoint. My heart rate was skyrocketing for no reason, I was slow, the weather was overcast, chilly, and drizzling, and I even walked up a hill.

But, it was still a great run. I might have felt like crud, but I noticed so many things around me that I never would have seen had I been able to concentrate on running well.

The homeless man in the park, sleeping on a bench...a policeman standing over him, talking quietly, presumably telling him to leave...

And of course everyone thinks this, but sometimes it just slaps you in the face - Aren't we lucky? And for what reason? Why do I have a house and why does that man have to sleep in the park? Maybe there are tangible reasons...but maybe there aren't...

And the boy in the fraternity, walking out of his house just as I ran by. He just stood over the porch railing, looking out. I didn't make eye contact.

The groundhog that looked up as I ran by and then scurried under the nearest house. Groundhogs always make me smile...they're just so silly looking.

And the two girls on the track team, walking together in uniform...on their way to a meet?

The collection of tents next to the student center. Have you heard of Tent State? I'm guessing that's what this was...a bunch of students living in tents and creating their own college environment to promote higher learning and peace. I didn't even know Rutgers had one, and I just read that it actually originated here...

Then running by the Starbucks downtown...it's a Sunday morning - of course there are people sitting in Starbucks - but for some reason the view of them sitting in the window with their newspapers was just another startling example of the many alternate universes exist within every college, neighborhood, and city.

And lastly, coming back to my apartment and seeing my reflection as I was getting water. This is me; this is my version of our world.