You Better Get To It

Last month our city hosted a very popular marathon.  The course passed close to my house and even though I am not a morning person, I got up early with my eight year old son and walked the block and half to an aid station that was set up on the course.  My son was quickly put to work handing out water to the runners as they went by, while I settled in to watch with a couple of neighbors. 

Runners had been going by for sometime when an elderly woman in a velour jumpsuit, carrying a small dog walked up to us.  She was on her way to the park to walk the dog and was surprised at the road closure.  “This is a big deal isn’t it,” she said as runners continued to stream past. I explained to her what was going on.  There were close to 20,000 runners in the race.  “And they run 26 miles?” she asked incredulously.

“Yes,” I said, and then, “it is something I have always wanted to do someday. “

She looked me up and down with a strange expression and then burst out, “Someday?! You better get to it.  You don’t look like you have forever.”

I am not really that old.  According to a study that was recently published I am not even middle aged for another 4 years.  But I don’t have forever, either.  I better get to it.