Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Running My Mouth, Among Other Things

I love my running partner. Kami and I have been running together for about 5 years now, which I figure puts her somewhere near the required time frame for sainthood. We run together lots in the spring/summer/fall, and less in the winter when there's snow on the ground. In fact, today is the first time we've gotten together since before Christmas.

What you have to know about Kami (and I'm sure you've already deduced) is that she's a much better person than I am.

She collects food at work for canned food drives. She uses aluminum water bottles, for crying out loud. She knows all my children and what they're up to, and actually asks about them, even though she's only met them once or twice during our 5 years.... probably because I talk about them ad-nauseum when I run. See one of the major advantages of a running partner is the free therapy sessions. You can just TALK and Talk and talk!! Oh baby, we can always find something to talk about.

Her work,
my bakery,
her in-laws,
my family,
her vacations,
my family,
her new fantastic exercise plan,
my family.

Yeah, my life is a plethora of scintillating topics. Shut up.

Anyway, there are two things we rarely talk about. religion and politics. She knows how I feel about both, and I have NO idea how she feels about either. Usually I say a thing or two, and she stays totally quiet, which I take to mean that she'd rather push a garbage truck uphill at this point in the run then discuss these taboo topics with someone as opinionated as I am.

So about halfway in to our 4 mile run this morning, I sort of forgot myself and started in on the stimulus package. You know, how we could really use a stimulus plan that would actually stimulate the economy? And then I remembered who I was talking to. Because she got really quiet all of a sudden.

And in a sort of surprising turn of events, she started talking about it, and reminded me that there are a lot of people in the country who have actual hope that this thing can work, and who really need to hang on to that hope, because their lives are going downhill fast.

Wow. And a short - very short- political conversation ensued. It was interesting.

I will say though, that as soon as I remembered who I was talking to, I immediately changed the topic. Because, you know, I can hash political garbage with anybody. But finding a truly amazing running partner is a once in a lifetime deal, and after 5 years I do NOT want her to change her mind about running with me. And frankly I'd rather talk about the Biggest Loser anyway.

(That girl probably goes home every day and resolves that THIS TIME she's really gonna find someone else to run with. Sadly for her, there aren't a whole lot of women willing to freeze their heinies off in the pre-dawn winter hours, so I think I'm relatively safe. For now.)

But after I got home and thought about it a bit, I decided that since she is really a much better person than I am, maybe it wouldn't kill me to rethink my position a little bit. What's done is done, right? And because the alternative is so horrible, what would it cost me to hope the dang thing actually works?

24 comments:

Yvonne said...

Good for your friend to be so positive and great job on your part as well. I get very frustrated when I watch the news on the whole thing. I worry that it doesn't seem a whole lot different than just going and printing up a whole bunch of money and passing it out.

I would like to think it's going to work, but it isn't exactly looking good.

BTW, you are a good person, you were on standby to go help out a 17 y.o. at the airport and HIS MOTHER WAS VERY GRATEFUL.

Annette Lyon said...

Here's hoping it works.

She sounds awesome as a running partner. I'll never know, because, well, I hate running.

Kristina P. said...

If I don't agree with your political beliefs, you know it because I become very quiet.

And honestly, I avoid most poitical blog posts like the plague.

Heather said...

Oh, way to go! Just can't keep that yap shut about the politics... I'd still run with you.

Lara Neves said...

Too true. Hope is free. Might as well try it.

I'm very impressed that you run at all...to me that qualifies YOU for sainthood.

Unknown said...

My mom has always said that once it's done, you have to look to the positive and have faith that there are advisors and men smarter than us to help it along.

Hildie said...

Bakery? What bakery?

Randi said...

Hi Jennie w! Kneader's Bakery (out of Utah) coming soon to Denver! (YAY!!) Hopefully. If the economy starts moving again so my loans can come through, that is.

Jessica G. said...

A running partner? That's awesome! I have a brownie-making partner.

And I agree with your last paragraph. What's done is done so let's hope that is really does work.

Amy Peterson said...

Wow! You go girl for running in the FREEZING COLD, and pre-dawn hours! And we all know you are a GREAT person!

Barbaloot said...

Couple things: you have a bakery? Where have I been? I'm definitely in awe of you right now.
Also---you started talking 4 miles into it? You realize most people are finished after 4 miles, right? Good for you!
Third---if nothing else, it's more fun to talk about Biggest Loser over the stimulus plan:)

Sue said...

It's not a bad thing to be concerned about our country. And it's very important to read and study and learn what's going on and especially not to rely on the media to form your opinions. Then it's natural to want to share what you've discovered with people you care about. And that's a good thing! However, not everyone is as interested as you/I might be in solving the problems in the world. So now you know that you have a wonderful running partner and you've figured out that she must totally love to hear about your family, the bakery, the kids, the family, the rooster, the family and.....I can't believe you actually have enough breath while running to talk about anything. So keep running, I'm sure she's willing to forgive and forget since she won't want to loose HER awesome running partner!!!

Shanon said...

You can run and TALK at the same time? Wow...impressive!!

mormonhermitmom said...

So when your bakery gets going, I bet you'll be the baker lady that RUNS there in the wee morning hours to get things started before it opens huh?

goddessdivine said...

You're a better person than I. I have little 'hope' that this will 'change' things for the better; quite the opposite actually.

Maybe that's why I don't have a running partner--my addiction to politics. Oh wait.....it's probably because I don't run.

Our Loved-up Family said...

I just found your blog and LOVE your Comment Policy!! I hope running isn't tied to sainthood though, becasue I'm in big trouble if it is:)

sarah @ spirituallythinking.blogspot.com

LisAway said...

You're amazing. When I ran in high school for cross country the guys always took a tennis ball to keep them entertained and laughed and joked and chased the ball etc. When I run that's ALL I can do. I wouldn't be able to talk myself into any kind of sensitive subject or anything.

And I love your politics.

Vern said...

Running AND politics. Man, you know how to party.

wenderful said...

Stimulus package? I just posted about that and my husband's pick up lines.
Count me in on being impressed with your running habit. I'm lucky to make it past mile 3.
I guess a bakery and a running habit balance each other out?

Heidi said...

Oh, man I don't want to talk about it! (but I totally admire you for getting up and running in such cold weather and so early and er, at all!)

Super Happy Girl said...

You are such a good friend. Aww, this post made me happy.

Super Happy Girl said...

Politics and religion are tough subjects.

Tough because I don't like to find out someone I like has opposite views from mine [perfectly sound views]...ooh, tough.

Lippy said...

As long as views are expressed intelligently, I can tolerate political discussion anytime. I have a feeling you'd fit that quite nicely.

As far as the stimulus, I think I'm at the point now where nothing will surprise me. I think we've done things so wrong for so long, that I'm actually hoping that there is some light at the end of this very long, dark tunnel.

Jennifer said...

You sound so level headed. Way to go. And I agree you can't value enough a great running partner!