Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Happy Friggin' VD Day

Can I just say how much I hate Valentine's Day? For couples, there's pressure to be "romantic". There's nothing more un-romantic than a Hallmark holiday and marked up prices at crowded restaurants for luke-warm, mediocre food. Second, I hate roses. They've never brought me anything than bad luck (remind me to tell you the story of the day of the black roses). Anything laden with thorns sharp enough to draw blood should be warning enough to stay away. Has anyone ever tried to grow their own roses? They're pest magnets! Finally, chocolates are irresistable but they also make me fat. And I eat chocolate all the time. In fact, I'm trying to stay away from chocolate. Isn't it a little perverse to feed my addiction? In some circles, the romantic wooer might be labeled an enabler.

Needless to say, I have a lot of sh*t going on right now. As usual, this isn't the venue to discuss it (that's what my journal is for...and my memoir...check back in a year). Anwyay, as always, when the going gets tough, yadda, yadda, yadda, I go for a run. Last night was no different. I brought the dogs for company; we were all emotionally distraught (they feeding off me, of course). We all needed it. The cool, damp air smelled faintly of lilacs. Spring comes early in San Diego. The nighttime darkness encompassed me in a protective, hidden blanket. And so I rqan. I thought it would be more difficult. My head felt heavy and my mind was so clouded I couldn't see straight. But my feet remembered how to run so the rest of me went along for the ride. With each footstep, my thoughts slowed. Although my chest was burning and my legs pounding the pavement so hard, I had to pull on the dogs' leashes to encourage them to keep up, my mind went silent and still. Everything around me might be a whirlwind but at least I found a way to create stillness inside.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

great post. this is why i will run until the day i die--it's therapy. it's celebration.

im married and could care less about VDay. you shouldnt need a holiday to tell your loved ones they are loved. it was just another monday to us :D

Christi said...

I hate Valentines Day as well!

CautiouslyAudacious said...

I totally agree about the Hallmark Holidays! That's why we decided to celebrate by doing a marathon :-) My dog apprantly hates VDay too cuz when I got home that day she had demolised my little rose bush in the back yard!!

Diana said...

Running really is therapy-as I train for this marathon and start hitting the long, dark runs my mind starts to settle. That is truly my favorite thing that gets me to put my running shoes on when I really don't want to!
Is it wrong to take chocolate along for a run? LOL! I usually throw a tootsie roll or two or 10 in my pockets!!

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Have you seen the Lady Gaga parody created by some researchers in Houston? I spent two months processing H-1B requests for post-docs and research assistants, so it really hit home and made me laugh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl4L4M8m4d0

Do you still have bunnies? They never get a mention anymore.

Unknown said...

I miss the moments where my thoughts go "silent and still," and look forward to getting back to them. That stillness is what drove me to extend from just being a runner to being a triathlete, after all. It's even quieter in the water.

Grey Beard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Grey Beard said...

Happy Valentine's Day Rachel! Great you found your quiet mind back. >B

Reading all of these comments, I have to say, I am more convinced each day that human beings have not evolved to be sedentary. People need to move, sweat, quiet their minds, and cleanse their bodies. Sweat is life.

SixTwoThree said...

Sounds like you found some zen. And hope that made your heart more content. Seems like it always does, huh?

Fizzgig said...

i love valentines day! I envy your drive for running as long as ive been trying it i just dont get that high..

Andy said...

Happy Belated V-Day! I agree with your take on this holiday, and this year my gf and I kept it low key and we were both happy with that. I like how you are able to find that quiet serene place in your workout even when everyhting else is your life is topsy-turvy. It can be a good feeling to balance things out. Hope you had a good weekend!