First Trip into Blogosphere

Several weeks ago Beth and I bought a jogging stroller. We both had the best intentions. I intended to get some well overdue exercise. Beth intended to get some well overdue sleep while we were gone. We're proud to say that the mission was accomplished. For the past three Saturdays Morgan and I crept out of the house around 7am to run through Central Park. There is a lot of great things to see early in the morning and even more things to ponder. Running in the park has a lot of parallels with our first family blog post. The first few blocks as Morgan and I leave our building are bumpy and bouncy--lots of pot holes, broken pavement and steaming piles to avoid. I'm pretty sure we won't make it though our first few weeks/months of blogging without a few steaming posts so please bare with us and "Curb Your Dog."

Soon enough we come to the North-West corner of Central Park--called the Harlem Meer. The name hearkens back to the early days of New York, when the Dutch settlers called it New Amsterdam (why they changed I can't say, maybe they just liked it better that way). The historical names filled with history and the way they just seem to flow off our tongues these days remind me that there is a lot of meaning out there--and in our blog--both historical and personal. I'm not sure if it will always make sense but to those that know it will be able to appreciate it and realize that things weren't always how they are now. Cities, parks and all people change a lot and the people involved are usually better off for it.

About the time we round the top of the Meer and hit the first hill I realize that this isn't going to be easy. There usually is only one way through--and that is one step at a time. Setting a rhythm, watching your breathing and paying attention to your form is the best way to get the most out of your run. All applicable to reading, writing and life, I think.

Did I mention the hill? There is only two ways to go once you enter the running/biking path around Central Park in our neck of the woods. Steep or Steeper! The last two weeks I chose steep and proceeded to climb the gradual lift up the bedrock hills that make the park so breathtaking and rugged. About half way up the hill I find myself thinking, "Why... (wheeze) did... (hack) I let... (pant) you talk... (wheeze again) me into... (ack) this, Morgan?" By then he's usually asleep so I continue to run/stumble and contemplate/arrest--as in cardiac--up the hill. By the time I get to the top and begin the decent I remember why I'm there and begin to enjoy the outdoors and the stinging, shooting pains that ricochet around my body like a greased pinball. All I'm sayin' is we are in a for a bumpy ride...

The next stage of our morning runs is my favorite. The feeling that takes over once you are warmed up and seems to keep you running despite yourself makes the steps and whole body convulsions fly by. It seems like you could do this forever and just keep going and going (That may sound good but we haven't come to my favorite part just yet). Around this time I start to re-gain my sight and vision enough to see that I have been gone for a while and instinctively jerk the jogging stroller toward home--usually taking out only a couple of joggers in the mean time. Just like blogging--there are large numbers of people out there that actually know what they are doing. They run through the park and seem to like hanging out in packs and staying very close together. They also have the tendency to be faster, in better shape and better at what they do than I am. That allows them to sneak up on me--1. Because they don't wheeze, pant and convulse, and 2. because I do... a lot! So I turn and they scatter like a school of minnows neatly avoiding an overweight, panting predator fish. I guess this part is my favorite because, in my own weird way, I like to be the panting predator fish... watch out minnows!

The longest part of the trip is the run home... Getting back seems to take the longest because that is the place I want to be the most. I can't wait to get home and begin our Saturday together in earnest. That is where the real fun happens--when we are all together.

I think that sums up how I will treat our blog--minus the panting and sweating (though I'm sure there are blogs for that too!). This is a great exercise but the real living takes place when we are together. I hope you enjoy the contemplation along the way.

Love Cody, Morgan and Beth