July 21, 2011

Today, I have lived 51 years. I can't recall the day my Dad turned 50, though I can recall when he turned 40. I was so frightened. Forty seemed like a daunting age to an 8 year old, I thought he would die at anytime. I recall reading life expectancy in the 19th century was 35 early in the century and 47 during the later part.

In the last month I have recovered from what seemed to be Lyme disease. Within a week or less I was bitten by 3 deer tics. Initially I was starving for sleep. I went to my doctors and they did a blood test which came back negative and prescribed me 21 day of doxycycline. I feel so much better now. Although I wasn’t diagnosed with Lyme disease it seems the likely culprit.

Today is hot, 86°F. Quite humid, and very sunny. I am sitting on the deck, beneath an umbrella. Home alone. The only sounds are distant cars and the restless breezes stirring through the pines. It is a perfect summer day. A dog day. The exact kind of day I remember from my childhood. Lazy with boredom I would fall asleep in the living room, maybe on the floor where it was coolest and wake a few hours later. Still, it would be too hot to venture outside into the neighborhood. I never thought about it before but now I wonder what my friends in the neighborhood had been up to. Were they lazy like me, listless and without responsibility? In my mind now I will take pleasure in thinking so.

I ran 3+ miles this morning at Long Sands Beach. At first Sandra and I ran on the sand and then up onto the still cool pavement and headed to the track at York High School. I haven't run since last fall, maybe longer. My leg muscles felt like they were being bitten. My hips and knees ached, but I persevered. I new it would make my next run that much easier. On the track I ran 1 mile. No doubt at a 10 minute pace or more. I didn't feel pretty. On the other hand Sandra looked graceful and full of energy. Her strides on the track were long and poignent. She looked relaxed and fit. As I watched her continuously closing on me I tried to be inspired. But my aches and pains were working counter to my lofty notions. Finally, I stopped in mid track and stretched my aching legs. Wow! it was like a miracle for 100 yards. No pain. But then it came back. And now there was no option other than to accept it. Somehow I managed to run back to our starting point. We sipped coffee on the tailgate as we recovered an marveled at how beautiful the beach was, how vibrant and full of energy things were.