Slice of Life #1

Ruth and Stacey host Slice of Life on their blog, Two Writing Teachers, every Tuesday.  Head on over for some fantastic posts!

Confession:  I am a lurker.  I have spent months (years?) lurking around Slice of Life posts.  I am the kid in my classroom who never has anything to write about.  I love to read.  I love people who write.  But, writing is so hard for me.  This summer, Christopher Lehman visited my school district.  He told us, "the single most important thing we can do to help our kids write is to be a writer ourselves."

**cringe**

In an attempt to live the life of a writer, I started this blog.  I decided to write about books because that is where I am comfortable.  I LOVE to read books.  I know things about books.  I like to motivate others to read books.  I think I have done a good job, and I now have some "writer's life" type things to share with my students.

BUT today is different.  As I went about my business after school, a SLICE OF LIFE post came to me!  So here it is...my first Slice of Life.

Running.
Running is my nemesis.
I used to be good at it, really good at it.
I spent years of my life running...
around the bases on the softball field,
up and down the soccer field,
from Start to Finish around the track.
I used to be good at it, really, really good at it.

But now, not so much.
Recently, Joey and I have taken up running again.
We should do it.
We need to do it.
We are slowly getting back in the groove, together.

But today, he's not home.
In the car, I think
I'll get home and do a quick run.
But then the traffic hits.
And I start yawning.
Oh, and I forgot I have to return an overdue library book.
(The Day the Crayons Quit).

I get home.
There is no one to push me.
I could just sit down.
I might just sit down.
But I don't.
I lace up my shoes.  I'll do a quick one.
I head out.
And
start
running.

And it's hot.  So hot.
I think my car said 90 degrees.
I'll make it quick.
My legs move faster.  I feel better.
Maybe I'll go farther I think.

I pass the spot where we turned yesterday.
I go up one more street.
I could turn around.
I want to turn around.
But instead, I run up the hill.
When I get to the top, it will all be downhill from here.
Halfway up, I might die.  I think I am dying.
When I get to the top, it will all be downhill from here.
I am barely moving.  I'll stop at the top.
When I get to the top, it will all be downhill from here.
I
finally
make
it.
It's all downhill from here.

And I don't stop.
I run down the hill...
turn right at the light...
down some more...
cross the bridge...
and I've done it.

I smile the rest of the way home.