Heads Up: I DON'T WANT TO KNOW

Dear Southerners,

I realize ya'll are friendly folk, warm and open even with complete strangers, and so--as one of these strangers--I beg a small request of each of you. Ready? Here it is:

PLEASE STOP SHARING YOUR LIFE STORIES WITH ME. ESPECIALLY WHILE WE ARE CONDUCTING WHAT SHOULD AMOUNT TO A 30 SECOND TRANSACTION BUT WHICH GETS DRAGGED OUT FOR 20 MINUTES AS YOU SHARE DETAILS OF YOUR LIFE THAT (and I apologize, as this part may be difficult for you to hear) DON'T INTEREST ME IN THE LEAST. 

Seriously. I was on the phone today with a car shop to give them my credit card number to pay for a repair for my sister-in-law's car. The (I can not emphasize this enough) very nice man said he would have his 82-year-old "Daddy" drive the car out to my sister-in-law. Lovely. I thanked him. And then it began. 

"Well, momma died recently--"

"Oh, I'm sorry," I say.

"Yeah, she's been gone 'bout 15 years now. Anyway, last year Daddy wasn't doing so good. He was always tidy and the house was still okay but he didn't look like himself, you know? So my sister, she lives next door to him but she works full time and she's got her life, you know? So I stop in and say to Daddy, I say..."

I'm going to stop here. The gist of the 15 minutes that followed is that his dad now comes in daily to the shop and helps out a bit, the customers love him, and he seems happy to have a purpose again in life.

It's a lovely story. Sweet. Touching. But I just... I just... (this is so mean and horrible I hate to admit it)... I just don't care. I don't. I just want off the phone. Take my credit card info. Wish me an insincere "Have a nice day." Let's both move on with our lives.

I know, bah humbug. Feel free to let me have it. I deserve it. I'm a grinch. A terrible person. Someone who isn't living in the moment and is missing life because I'm so concerned with staying on task with the all-mighty to-do list. You're right. I know you're right. 

But still, for right now, until I evolve into a better person? Quit talking. Please quit talking.

I just don't want to hear it. 

A Run In the Rain

Why having friends to run with is crucial: 38 degree weather, rain, and 7 a.m. coming way too early after a night out with friends. 

Even knowing I was meeting my friend Thad (aka "Runnerdude") almost wasn't enough to get me out the door this morning. Why? Dark skies, rain, cold temps and the unwelcome task of 18 miles had me asking Blair, "What do you think? Is it raining too hard? Should I just stay home and try to run later?" 

Blair, smart man that he is, refused to comment. Thad was waiting, so I sighed and out the door I went. I'm glad I did. We ended up having a fantastic 10-mile run. As I set out to do the last eight on my own, the rain picked up. I didn't mind. There is something peaceful and meditative about running solo in the rain. The streets were almost empty of cars, the greenway where I was running was close to deserted, and it was just me and my breath and the steady tread of my shoes on wet pavement. 

Sometimes on inclement weather days it's hard to know if you're stupid or badass for braving the weather. Last Sunday when I forced my friends outside in ice and snow and we only made it a half-mile before the ice sent us scurrying back to our cars? Stupid. Today, with not-so-bad temps and a steady drizzle and the company of a friend followed by the solitude of my thoughts? Total badass run.

Far from being a drudgery, today was probably one of my favorite runs of the year.

Cheers,

Dena

Fox 8 Morning News Video

Here's yesterday's interview on Fox 8 Morning News for family members and friends outside the immediate viewing area. (Could I say, "actually," any more times???) FYI, they got the time of the book signing wrong. I'll be at Barnes & Noble at Friendly Center this Saturday from 10 am to Noon and at Shakespeare & Company in Kernersville from 2-4.

Cheers!