esrosedotblog

SIRENS

I haven't heard it for awhile.

The sirens' song.

"You don't have to ride the bike this morning. It is a little windy. It is pretty cold. You have done a good job all this time, you could relax a little. It is a holiday week. You have a little bit of a cold. Ease up."

I know the verse and refrain rather well.

I started running when I was—what—19? Running to get in shape for ROTC summer camp. Around the Charles River Basin—Boston.

The song got so strong that, after I got married and 'settled down' (?!), I gave up running. ("You are too busy, you have responsibilities, you get enough exercise")

But, I took it up again when I was 32 or so. I used to run down around the harbor—Plymouth MA.

Then I stopped again.

I was a binge runner. A few years on and then a few years on.

But, ever since I was 50, I have always had running, then biking, and also the gym—weight training. Intense.

I have not listened to the sirens.

I took time off. Sure. But not because they sang to me.

Of course, the sirens have been there for many other things; work situations, times when I am afraid; "Give up". "It is not that important".

But it is the jock times that they stand out.

They are the loudest when I think about putting on my sneakers.

I have pretty much quit listening to them.

I guess because I have learned about the rocks that the sirens live on. Once you hit them and get stove up, it is all hell to get going again.

So, I pulled on my tights, put on my shoes, went out for the bike and it was not cold.

It was not windy.

When I climbed on the seat and rolled down the drive I got the rush of riding.

It is a holiday week. There are not many cars. It is dark and I get to see the sunrise. My cold symptoms went behind my consciousness.

The sirens were silent.

They will be back but I ain't listening. I don't have time for the rocks. I am up for the rolls.