Staying Alive
Running north, picking up speed, passing the outdoor hospital on my right that one now expects, I silently pray for the sick and their noble caretakers soldiering on.
I think how strange and sad, that it took hundreds of lives to humble thousands of New Yorkers, not to mention everyone in our wounded world, but then, like the daffodils, perk up, finding myself in front of 1040 Fifth, Jackie’s old building thinking, how great it would be to see her in one of her turtlenecks and sunglasses,
This entry was posted in animals, Beauty, Culture, Faith, fitness, grace, Gratitude, Health, History, humanity, inspiration, nature, New York City, words, writing and tagged Humility and gratitude, living in the moment, running in Central Park, Shelter in place New York City 2020, Sorryless.com, The Central Park Jogger. Bookmark the permalink.
Nature has the power to refresh and restore us. Aren’t you amazed at how many people look at but don’t see the same beauty and comfort?
A few years ago I told Pookie that if I ever become incapacitated I want to be wheeled up to a window with a bird feeder. He got a little freaked that I would even be thinking of something like that, I didn’t know where the thought came from myself. They bring therapy dogs into nursing homes, but how many bird feeders sit outside their windows?
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The birds always impress me. I think they sing because they’re happy. Tell Pookie not to worry, it’s just the writer in you. ✍🏻
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Nice tour. The freshness of morning air is special. Wondering. Have you noticed an improvement in air quality? Keep smiling and stay safe.
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It just feels like something I’ve never noticed before. After so many what you always looked at as inconsequential liberties, have been taken away, it’s astounding what suddenly matters so much. A breeze. A dog coming up to greet you. A baby cooing. Life just got a paint job Frank.
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🙂 … Keep your head up and keep smiling.
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Would look great on a T shirt or bumper sticker 👍
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Absolutely.
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Marvelous! I loved running with you without moving my feet. You are always so aware of everything around you, and your skill as a writer paints a lovely, detailed picture for us.
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That’s nice of you to say. Thank you. 🙏
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Excellent 😎
~Hal Rubenstein From my iPhone
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Anytime you’d like to join me. 😊
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Running is a weird and beautiful thing — you see things and think things and feel things that you never would have if you hadn’t gone for that run. Thank you for sharing the beauty and life you see along your run.
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Sounds like you’re a runner too. I love that all you need is you and a pair’a sneaks.
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I’ve been running for about fifteen years, although I’ve developed a knee issue that is currently keeping me from it. But yes, the best thing about running is the ease. Just shoes and walk out the door.
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Can you still walk? Put a band around your knee? Unless it’s a torn ligament you may have runner’s knee. You can strengthen your quads that will fix that. Leg lifts. Daily. I do them without fail and they seem to do the trick. Then of course it could be something else. Just a running thin girl’s 2 cents.
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For months, the docs were telling me that it was inflammation caused by calcium deposits. The sports doc finally decided there may be a problem with the meniscus and scheduled me for an MRI. On April 5. Due to the virus, the appt was moved back a month. There are times when it is so bad, I can barely walk. Right now, it is relatively calm. I’ve been walking almost every day for the last couple of weeks. Yesterday, a little over three miles and I slow jogged about 2/3 of a mile. Woohoo!! The knee is achy, but not so much that it’s affecting my ability to walk. I have PT exercises, but most things for my quads implicate my knee at the moment.
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I’m so sorry. But at least you’re walking. That’s happened to me where I couldn’t run. It makes you love it all the more. Do you like pineapple? Great anti inflammatory over the counter healer. Let’s hope you can have that MRI soon. I love knowing you’re an athlete 👍
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We frequently have pineapple. Have some fresh pineapple in the fridge right now. Mostly I’ve been eating a lot of berries these days. Can’t seem to get enough of them.
I’ve road cycled off and on over the years. Last spring I started it again with the idea that I would gradually transition to that as a replacement for running. As easy as running is, I am not a “comfortable” runner. Every run involves pain somewhere. Knee, calf, hip, foot – some combination of all of the above and mystery pains that show up all too frequently. And with my retirement that arrived a couple of months ago, I have a lot more time for cycling. But the knee kind of ruined those plans. Sigh.
As for being an athlete, I just believe in trying to stay healthy and good, hard exercise is one of the things that contributes to health, not just physical, but mental and emotional also.
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Agreed. And this is temporary remember. Injuries happen to all athletes whether you’re Michael Jordan in his hey day, or you. 😊
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I know. I ran a handful of half marathons a number of years ago. The last one I ran with a torn groin muscle. I haven’t been the same since. Longer runs are out of the question, but after years of struggling with the muscle tear, I was finally in a good place with running 3-5 miles three or four times a week. And then I was incorporating a 30-40 mile bike ride. All was going good for a few months. And then … bam! I’m working on it. ;). Thank you for the encouragement!!
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That’s all I run. 3-4. It’s just enough. I think one’s body appreciate’s the lesser distance. I’m always amazed I’m still running. Grateful as all hell.
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Yes. Far easier on the body, and it’s really all that’s needed to remain fit and healthy.
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Agreed. I hope your knee feels better, and thanks always for writing to me.
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I enjoy the back and forth.
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👍
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Thanks for sharing your run today. Thoughtful sights.
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My creativity is at half throttle. I was grateful to your Pilgrim for asking me that. 🙏
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😊
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Running..or in my case with running days a thing of the past…the important thing is to get outside in some way. Enjoy your jog!
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Walking is just as inspiring. To be out. Just seeing the sky soothes I find. Thanks
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This is beautiful, SB. I’m glad I asked you and I’m really, really glad you shared this.
My runs have taken on a completely different identity since COVID shushed us all inside. It feels to me like I’m trespassing back to the time before, as if my legs can quiet all that has happened since the world changed course. Of course, there are always reminders, depending on which path I decide to take. If I go by the park, it’s quiet. A reminder that things are different in the now. But if I take one of the back roads that lead me through some farmland, I get the Amish buggies passing by. They always wave. I find myself going their way more often these days.
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I love that they wave to you. They’re such peaceful people. Yes, I know things are different, but Nature stays the same. I try hard to lean on her for support and comfort since she rarely disappoints. We have to believe life will resume again, just with fresh, replenished hearts.
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Me too. They have such an erstwhile brevity to their daily lives. The simplicity is inspiring.
Nature and gravel. The latter is something I run on when I drive over to a nearby college campus which is empty nowadays. I park outside the gates since they close off the parking lots now. The lot is grass and gravel and I love that crunching sound, it’s as if my steps have been gifted a narrator.
As for nature, I see deer every now and again when I ran at the campus. There is bittersweet irony in this, as it’s because of over development that we have come under the gun when it comes to viruses.
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Nature and Gravel…has a really nice sound to it. I can picture you driving up…parking…getting out, stretching your hamstrings then taking off crunching as you go. A very clear image.
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Nature and Gravel has a really nice feel to it too.
Another thing I’ve started doing? No music. I just want to Zen out with the sounds I come across. It’s funny because music used to be a rhythmic solution, a pleasurable accompaniment. Now, I prefer to go without.
The little things. I think we’ve come to appreciate them more than ever.
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I’ll say. I just got an email saying anytime you leave my building as you pass through the lobby you must cover your face. It’s like Iran. Sigh
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Who’s the Hiya-tollah in charge?
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It’s so disconcerting. The residents, mostly rich and more freaked out than the average Joe, if you will, were nuts already. Now it’s gone up a notch. Every time I open my door to leave, my heart pounds. Masks to me are tortuous. I feel for all the essential workers who wear them all day. Here’s to nature and gravel.
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This was lovely, Susannah. I’m glad Marc asked you to share your thoughts which made you pay attention to said thoughts and sights and feelings.
Truly lovely.
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It was like a school assignment, like what did you do on your summer vacation. 🙂
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To which you have earned an A+ my dear! Was really a wonderful read and did you enjoy being more mindful during your run?
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Did you read Marc’s response. He described his run. It was so clear. I saw it all.
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Response on this post? I shall go snoop…
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He writes so well. ✍🏻
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He is a fabulous writer. I admire him so much.
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Have you told him?
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All the time 🙂
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Nice new photo. 👍
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Thank you. I like to keep it current… as the hair goes short to long to short 😉
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My hair is longer than it’s been in 20 years. I now have a punky spin. I’ll tell ya Dale. Beauty falls to the wayside during an epidemic. Who knew. Sigh
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Punky is cute. I am digging through my boxes, searing for my dye that I bought from my hair dresser when she had to stop for cancer treatements – I wonder if it’s still good after 3-4 years? Gonna take a chance and dye my own hair anyway… The things we gotta do during a pandemic…
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Funny you should mention…do it yourself. I’ve been mulling over tooling to the drugstore for a little Loreal. I’m just worried I’ll have dye everywhere since, I’m not a good do it yourselfer. I think I had a staff in another life. sigh. You humbled me when you said, she stopped for cancer treatments. sigh
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Let’s just say when I bought my bottles from my hairdresser, it was with the understanding I’d have some help from my sister. However, I seem to recall doing it myself as well. Can’t remember how well I did but guess I’ll be finding out soon enough when I feel my skunk stripe is wide enough…
Yeah, that is sobering. She’s doing well now, though!
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I’m glad. Here we’re worrying about some gray when she may have lost hers during that ordeal. sigh
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No kidding. I think she was one of the lucky ones re her hair.
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Happy to hear that. I know, sometimes that is the case.
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So rare!
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Yes.
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Thought of you a lot yesterday when I read about that shooting. Hoped it wasn’t anywhere near you. 🙏
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In Nova Scotia? It’s in the Maritimes which is far from me (over 12hr train ride) Such a horrible, terrible thing!
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That’s so great that live close enough to the park to be able to run there and that you have the discipline to do it. I admire that about you. I try but I am so not a morning and that is the best time for me to exercise. Thanks for bringing us all along on your run. Sounds like a great time of the day.
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It was an odd post to write, but a good exercise, no pun intended. Thanks, as always.
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It’s incredible what we’re able to see when we pay attention. I feel like I was there, less the heavy breathing.
Last year I visited Central Park and was taken back by the rows of yellow & orange tulips gracing the entrance. Talk about a welcome wagon!
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You must have come in on 91st Street, by the Cooper Hewitt Museum. That’s the entrance I take when I go in. It’s a comforting sight to see flowers and trees in full bloom during this upsetting time.
Hope you’re well and safe
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The numbered streets are a challenge for me, but I’ll remember that now. Right back at ya!
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How’s lockdown in Philly?
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Well, let’s just say the dogs will need therapy when it’s over. They might not let me go back to work.
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Yeah, I get that. Here too.
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