run on sentences

During my usual run through the neighborhood in the early morning, when I approach other runners, I usually say "hi" just to acknowledge the bond we share or at least that I feel, with these fellow humans, toiling away like me. I irrationally, I suppose get offended when they don't answer. When this happens, I usually say, sometimes loud enough for them to hear "....or not!". Like me, these anonymous and non communicating runners probably have their I pods on and didn't hear me - "Turned on and tuned out" was what we called it in the 60's - but then it meant turned on by some mind altering substance. Now it is "Tuned in and tuned out" I guess. Why should I get offended by this lack of a greeting? I don't even know these people and they don't know me. Maybe I yearn for the simple "hi" which sometimes is enough to give me encouragement to make it the rest of the way. Or maybe my sometimes iffy self esteem needs the ...

Today my friend Becky and I ran at our usual 5:40 AM time. It was destined to be an F - bomb run where we threw the word around like it was something we always said (we don't). I hadn't felt the best because I have my first urinary tract infection since I was pregnant (a common event during pregnancy). I knew I would not run on my own but called her the night before and she wanted to go...that's what friends are for....to keep each other running. I woke up and didn't feel that sense of urgency to pee like I did the day before so off we went, Jack, Becky and I. It is darker in the morning than it used to be so I even put on my reflective vest. The cool thing about an F bomb rant run is that since one or the other is bitching about something, we don't have time to notice if we feel crappy or have to pee, or whatever. Oh we know we both have it good - good job, good spouses, good kids, but sometimes a person just has to bitch about stuff - work, spouses, kids -...

I am sitting in the waiting room at the University Hospital. My son Billy and his fiance Scarlett are off in some other room down the hall and behind two sets of double doors, working to give birth to our first grandchild - sex unknown which is cool. I always thought knowing what you were going to have was like opening presents before Christmas. Bruce left to feed the dogs but he will be back. This room is stinky with the smell of tired waiting men but now no one is in here but me and the popcorn scraps and newspapers from three days ago. I am tempted to eat some M. and M. Peanuts sitting on the couch in an open wrinkled pack, abandoned by someone who left them to go see a new baby I suppose. I can't leave even though there's nothing I can do here but wait. And think about stuff. I am hungry a little but I must not leave this chair and the 5:00 news to keep me company while I wait. Weird having your kid having a kid. Then you have to really admit that he has had sex - probably ...