Flowering Branch

Two days ago while walking to the Wishing Tree a branch of yellow flowers appeared at my feet. I placed the branch in my bag and offered it, with rice, to the Tree. 

Today I walked to the Wishing Tree and was surprised to see that my offering had remained beneath the tree. I also saw an offering from the Pink Angel, small pink and white flower petals arranged into an oval, along with cherry tomatoes, kiwi, and an unnamed fruit. 

It was cold, windy, grayish white, the dismal cloud light dulling the day.

Summer Rain

Today I departed a friend's home in the late afternoon. As I entered the heart of the city the dimming dusk light put a glow on things, the traffic lights of the busy streets turning soft and pleasing. 

Heavy dark clouds rolled in from the northwest and as I neared the condo it began to rain. 

I entered the lobby misted and damp and as I waited at the elevator bank a beautiful woman turned to face me. She blessed me with a radiant smile and as we entered the lift softly said "it's a refreshing night."  Her body then relaxed into a languid pose, her eyes momentarily distant. 

"I just love a summer rain."
 

Distance

This week I ran "distance" rather than sprints. 

Francis has never run more than a mile, and it was thrilling to experience fatigue, the sting of sweat in the eyes, and the glow of the post-run walk. 

Easy

I walked to the Wishing Tree today and scattered rose petals are what remain of the cake offering. In cold months an offering from the Pink Angel can last as long as a week, so I am fortunate that I witnessed the cake. 

At the track I did something which I normally won't do, which is finish while still fresh. The point is to exhaust both body and mind. Today, though, I wanted to take it easy and enjoy my fitness. 

After leaving the track I walked to the market to get bread, carrots, and garlic, and later ate lunch and napped. 

When I woke I decided to walk to the hill adjacent McCormick Place. The hills at Northerly Island are now overgrown with wild grass, and birds which are nesting on the hills have become aggressive. On the walk to McCormick Place I recalled running Blackwell Hill in the late 1980's, and running in Chiang Mai and drinking chocolate milk on the steps of 7-11. 

After running the hill I stopped at the market and bought chocolate milk and drank it while sitting on a bench outside the store. The sun was setting and I thought of the summer days of childhood. Sneaking into the seminary grounds and sitting alone on a bench, before me a green field illuminated with yellow dandelions and powder white butterflies. Walking Calvary Hill and passing scenes of the crucifixion and death of Jesus. I pondered the nature of these memories. What is the past? Did anything actually happen if no one is around to remember?

Today was a day of health, relaxation, smiling.

Easy.

Cake

I woke at 4:30am and thoughts of the Pink Angel arrived. I quickly dressed and walked to the Wishing Tree as the sun crossed the horizon. 

When I arrived I saw a cake-like offering from the Pink Angel, fifteen inches wide by ten inches high. The outer ring was made of stacked red rose petals, and the inner ring contained white and yellow flower heads. The sweetness was artfully arranged in red - pomegranate seeds, strawberries, and cherries. At the top of the cake were two bright orange cantaloupe slices. White fairy dust was scattered throughout.

As I stood gazing at the scene, a woman passed and praised the offering, which shone brightly with the rays of the rising sun.

 

Necropolis

A few days ago I walked to the Ukrainian Village neighborhood to locate the residence of my grandparents and mother, who lived there in the 1940's. They lived on Superior Street and my plan was to walk west on Superior, but the street ended at the North Branch of the Chicago River. I crossed the river, hoping to rejoin Superior, but was unable to locate the street. After walking two miles I turned around in defeat. 

Two days ago I stopped at the library to return a dharma book and while there checked out two books, My Stripes Were Earned In Hell and Necropolis. 

Last night I began reading My Stripes Were Earned In Hell and inside the book was a library receipt which recorded that two books were checked out on July 18, 2017, My Stripes Were Earned In Hell and...Necropolis.  

Heat

The days are becoming warmer and this allows my old body to run easier. 

Today I ran at the track :

100m/250m/100m/400m/100m/500m/100m/650m/100m/800m/100m

and down the ladder :

650m/100m/500m/100m/400m/100m/250m/100m/100m

Two days ago I was at the track and a beautiful brown skinned child was attracted to my presence. We connected with our eyes and smiles. He followed me around, doing the exercise circuit with me.

Today a small Asian child, female, was attracted to my presence. She ran in the grass as I soaked myself with fountain water, and blessed me with a special smile as she passed. 

Last week's dream, where I was robbed while resting on a park bench, has stayed with me. The image of myself calm while under attack, like a piece of wood or stone, not reacting, just relax, man, relax.

Floating

I woke this morning and walked to the Wishing Tree. As I made my offering I sensed my legs had recovered from yesterdays run, so I walked to the track and did the exercise circuit.

When I returned home I rested and then walked to Northerly Island with tense shoulders.

At the island I was attacked by a red winged blackbird, which did not surprise me because I was attacked yesterday. I ran hill repeats and then relaxed at the beach for an hour.

I walked to the market feeling fatigued, and bought chocolate milk and drank it while sitting on the usual market bench.

I thought of childhood summers and the skinny kid I was, playing ball games from sun up to sun down, the body so light it felt to be floating above the ground. 

Relaxed

I ran 120m/250m/120m/400m/120m/500m/120m/650m at the track this morning. 

I walked home to rest and then walked to Northerly Island, the concert ongoing so I ran the harbor path and the full island distance.

At the beach I passed concert-goers dressed in unusual costumes.

I sat on a boulder near the water, smiling. 

I thought of Sanur, Bali, and the old man I would see running shirtless on the beach path. 

I stopped at the market and bought a chocolate milk, drinking it while sitting exhausted on a market bench. I watched the late afternoon sun reflecting itself on the glass highrises, relaxed.

Offerings

Yesterday was warm and I did the usual exercise circuit at the track, with extended sprint distances :

120m/120m/120m/240m/120m/400m/120m/500m/120m/400m/120m/240m/120m/120m

I left the track and walked to the beach and sat on a log. A pine cone appeared at my feet and I placed it in my bag, intending to offer it to the Wishing Tree. 

When I returned home my energy was high so I walked to Northerly Island to run hill repeats. 

When I arrived at the 12th Street Beach entrance a concert security crew turned me away, so I took the harbor path and ran the full length of the island and ten hill repeats. 

On the walk home I felt the usual shoulder and back stiffness.

I stopped at the market to buy a chocolate milk, which I drank while sitting on a bench outside the market. I was reminded of my Chiang Mai days, sitting on the steps of 7-11 drinking chocolate milk after running and exercising at the Pharmacy Gardens. 

This morning I stopped at the Wishing Tree and was happy to see an offering from the Pink Angel. Yellow flowers encircled by blue flowers. In the middle of the flower circle are two bananas forming an X and a cluster of cherries. 

Placed atop this splendid offering was the pine cone I had offered yesterday. 

I offered rice to the Wishing Tree and walked to the track, where I did the exercise circuit in a cool rain.