Gone. . .

I've lived in and around Boise for a very long time. 27 years to be exact. So I'm pretty familiar with the Boise Greenbelt. We've gone for long bike rides there and nice, scenic walks. I've even walked from the shop to the library by way of the greenbelt several times. I've been looking forward to running on the greenbelt for several weeks because I'm getting tired of my same old neighborhood route and because it's such a pretty place, right along the river. Well, it finally happened on Saturday. And it wasn't all I had hoped it would be. Lucy and I walked from the shop to the first mile marker which was probably about a half mile. One of the reasons I've been wanting to run on the greenbelt is that it is clearly marked in 1/10th mile increments. I don't think my 5k (3.1 miles) route at home is very accurate, so I wanted to time myself on a "real" course. We started out OK except that I was tired from lack of sleep the night before so I think I was dragging just a little bit. There were also a lot more distractions for Lucy than when we run at home so I spent a lot of time and energy reigning her in. Saturday probably isn't the best day to run on the greenbelt if you're trying to be serious about it because once I hit the park it was all over for Lucy. Too many kids and bikes and frisbees flying by. I kept running and pulling her along almost to Broadway and then I had to stop and walk. Of course, I couldn't stop until I had hit my 2 mile point so I could check my time. (I ran the two miles in about 22 minutes so I'm thinking my route at home is not quite 5k.) Then, we had to turn around and go through the park again so I decided to just walk for a mile until most of the distractions were behind us. At the zero mile marker under the bridge by the library, we started to run again. I had my music in my ears and was trying to concentrate on the music but all I could think about was how crazy this was and what, exactly, was I thinking????? I wanted to give up and lay on the grass and never run again!! Just as I was about to stop, this Switchfoot song came on my MP3 player:


I matched my pace to the beat, concentrated on the words and ran the rest of the way to the shop. I still wanted to die, but this song was just the reminder I needed. . . I'm not giving up any time soon. . .


GONE
Switchfoot

She told him she'd rather fix her makeup
Than try to fix what's going on
But the problem keeps on calling
Even with the cellphone gone
She told him that she believes in living
Bigger than she's living now
But her world keeps spinning backwards
And upside down
Don't say so long, and throw yourself wrong
Don't spend today away
Cuz today will soon be

Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is
Gone, just try to prove me wrong
And pretend like you're immortal

She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every day we borrow
Brings us one step closer to the edge (infinity)
Where's your treasure, where's your hope
If you get the world and lose your soul
She pretends like she pretends like she's immortal

Don't say so long
You're not that far gone
This could be your big chance to makeup
Today will soon be

Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is gone,
The world keeps spinning on,
Your going going gone,
Like summer break is gone,
Like Saturday is gone
Just try to prove me wrong
You pretend like your immortal your immortal

We are not infinite
We are not permanent
Nothing is immediate
We're so confident
In our accomplishments
Look at our decadence

Gone, like Frank Sinatra
Like Elvis and his mom
Like AL Pacino's cash nothing lasts in this life
My high school dreams are gone
My childhood sweets are gone
Life is a day that doesn't last for long
Life is more than money
Time was never money
Time was never cash,
Life is still more than girls
Life is more than hundred dollar bills
And roto-tom fills
Life's more than fame and rock and roll and thrills
All the riches of the kings
End up in wills we got information in the information age
But do we know what life is
Outside of our convenient Lexus cages
She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every moment that we borrow
Brings us closer to the God who's not short of cash
Hey Bono i'm glad you asked
Life is still worth living, life is still worth living