The Good in Jealousy

The sun peeked out. Shyly at first, as if it wasn’t sure it really belonged in our New England sky. Can’t say i blame it, we have had torrential downpours for weeks on end. Big trees felled by strong winds and vicious lightning bolts. Roads washed out by fast floods, water rushing with nowhere to go. Storm drains and gutters crying mercy as they overflow and spill out.

When the sun got a little braver and its shine became a little brighter my husband announced a bike ride was in order. Having run yesterday, less than 12 hours ago, i planned to prop myself up in a lawn chair and finish an Early Review – after all, a second ER book was plopped on front stoop without warning so i’ve got a ton to get through this month. No more than 30 seconds after the Mister left did i start feeling the bite of jealousy. I needed to get out there, too. But, what about the knee? I could hear myself, the practical one, asking. Oh. Yeah. The knee. Now cautious me was chiming in. Go for it, moi said. Despite cautious outweighing careless i laced up the sneakers, strapped on the ipod and hit the pavement.

It was only a 2.1 mi run, but i completed it in under 20 minutes – haven’t done that since Darfur. It felt good to make my way to Look, see the Swell Season sign (see you tomorrow!) and make my way down the bikepath (haven’t been there in ages, either). I have missed the twisted trees more than i knew. My mister tells me i missed him by *this* much. He too took the bike path home. On his bike – the thing that got me out there in the first place.

So, there is good in jealousy – another run.