I cannot believe how fast April flew by this year. I only remember a few moments, and of those mostly because of photographs I’ve taken or blog posts I’ve recorded here.
I am looking forward to a slower pace starting tomorrow, and hopefully a better memory of the month ahead.
Lilacs finished
Blooms relinquished
Perfume vanished
View diminished
Lilacs bloom.
Some not yet.
When will mine?
I just left work a few minutes ago, and headed down the sidewalk toward my bus home. As I reached the corner, an elderly man’s voice called out to me. I turned around and saw the slightly hunched gentleman. He wore a jacket with the Veterans logo and carried a partially filled plastic bag, and a red plastic Folgers coffee can. The roughly cut rectangular hole in the lid revealed cash within.
“Would you like a poppy?” he asked. “All proceeds go to support our disabled vets.”
“How much?” I said somewhat tentatively. The change in my pocket was less than a dollar. The only bill in my wallet was a ten.
“However much you want to give.”
The decision was easy.
Tonight the coins will go in the basket on my nightstand.
The other day I registered for the Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride.
The next evening my sister-in-law called. Guess which day was selected for my nephew’s confirmation. I’ll give you a hint. May 6.
Of course. When else would it be planned?
Confirmations are the sort of thing to be scheduled well enough in advance so relatives can make arrangements to attend. At least that’s how it was done back in my day. I maybe didn’t know many of my relatives by more than name only, but they came to witness the big day anyway. They had time to plan.
… to be anal.
… feel the need…
Sometimes I…
The Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride is in two weeks. Until a month ago, I had been looking forward to riding the century (100-mile) route. Extra hours at work the last few months had taken their toll, leading to almost non-existent training for the ride. I’m not sure you could even consider a couple 20-mile rides back in March as training. I have been so worn down that last week I decided the ride just wasn’t in the cards for me this year.
Lucky for me, I had to work this weekend to do what I could to help get our project completed for release this week.
Lucky to have to work the weekend?
Yes, lucky.
My boss stopped by Saturday afternoon to chat about the project. Two minutes later, my rundown of my progress was done. Then we got talking about the 5K run event he finished that morning. He had a picture of himself decked out in his cold-weather running gear on his phone. His daughter said he looked like a dork. He looked pretty normal to me. From personal experience, fashion isn’t quite a top priority when participating in a cold-weather event. He ran his 5K in near freezing temperatures without having to walk any of it. His goal had been to run the whole distance without walking, and he did it.
I decided that if he can run 5K without slowing to a walk, I can at least try my best to pedal 100 miles. Even if a five-minute fast walk now leaves me panting.
My boss had a quadruple-bypass almost a year ago. If he can run, I can ride. Today I registered for the ride.
Thanks for asking me to work the weekend, boss.
Tonight I saw a snorkel in a parking garage at work, perched on a rope. I wonder what adventures it has had with its owner.
