Thursday is supposed to be my tempo run. But by mile 2 (after having to turn back because of the construction on the trail and finding a different route) I could tell it was going to be all I could do to just get the miles done: 9:28/8:50/9:22/9:02/9:06/9:12/10:00/9:31/9:09. Must be a little anemic. I haven't been good about replacing my iron source and eating more greens etc. since I stopped eating meat about last year. (I've eaten some, I just don't have the heart for it hardly anymore). A few days ago, when we were running in the dark, in the pre-light dawn, I saw my big fat owl sitting on a tree above my head. That owl only shows up ever few years. First time was in 2000, then on the day my Dad died--which was March 4, 2006. Then I saw it again in April 2008. But he was there around the same spot 3 days ago. I've been thinking of my Dad ever since. Particularly since it was 4 years ago today we spent a week in the hospital watching him perform what can only be described as "death sleeping." Before the stroke, he had the face of Paul Newman and the body of Arnold Schwarzenegger--right up until his 70th birthday. He was a beautiful, strong man. I remember Rad telling about her had who died a few years back too. Grief gets boring and everyone gets tired of it when it extends beyond a year or two. But the depth and breadth of your loss, last so much longer than that. It's impossible to not remember the space left unoccupied in your life almost daily for who knows how long. And then you have to remind yourself how that person made you who you are, and you must be grateful for what was, and what is now 'till we meet again. Anyway, whenever I see those hawks, and the eagle; and like today the owl, sitting in a tree looking down at me, it makes me think of my Daddy (he loved birds of prey, particularly owls) and how he's somewhere looking out for me still in his own way. | 