Where Did Mary Go?

I've been running regularly for about 5 years now. I've even trained for a marathon a few years back. So I've piled on many miles, got my routine down, and know my routes very well. Back when I started running I had a simple goal, to make it around the neighborhood. I started heading east then north through the sub-division, turned north to head out onto Drexel Avenue, then south down 13th Street, back east and then home again. As I developed my running legs, I ventured further by winding through the parkway paths to increase my distance. After a few months I worked my way up to the 4-mile route that goes from Drexel Avenue to 13th Street to Puetz Road, then to Howell Avenue, back to Drexel and home again. The route was familiar. I know exactly where the tree branches hang too low, where the residents park their cars over the sidewalk, and the dogs bark too much. I pass the same runners going in other directions and see mostly the same people on the paths during my runs.

There is something to be said for routine. It gives me the ability to get comfortable with my surroundings. That helps me run. And running isn't easy. It takes perseverance, dedication, and imagination. All are important in keeping up the routine but the one thing that means the most is imagination. Imagination helps keep me from getting bored; it makes me forget when my shins begin to hurt and my legs start getting heavy. There are moments when I want to quit and make excuses as to why I should just start walking or turn around and go back home. Taking my mind to another place helps me get through those times and before I know it, the run gets easier and I'm back in the game.

Which brings me to Mary. Mary is a consistent figure on my path. She is always there to greet me as I go by. Her arms are stretched out as if welcoming me into them and the serene look on her face brings me a sense of calmness and reassurance to both my mind and body. Whether it’s 20 degrees outside or 90, she is there. When the wind is whipping the fall leaves swirl around her and in spring she stands in the mud after the rain has come. I can always count on Mary. She is standing 15 strides from the turn in my path. As I turn the view towards the sky is incredible. I look up and see the blue sky framed by the edges of the tree tops on all sides. After I do the sign of the cross and pray for Mary's blessing I always say out loud, "Thank you God for another day," as I peer into this little portrait of heaven. But Mary is gone now leaving me in a state of confusion.

The statue stood in the front yard of this house as long as I've been running. Once in a while I got a glimpse of the owner. He was a frail man confined to a wheelchair. I don't know if anyone else lived in the house, there were no clues to tell me one way or another. With some homes I run past I can get a pretty close idea of the family that lives there. The swing sets and small bicycles tell of toddlers, the 10-speeds and skateboards hint of teens, and the houses with four or more cars tell me the kids have grown. But this home had no real signs of life outside of the man in the wheelchair seldomly sitting in his garage. There was a car in the garage so either he could drive it himself, but I doubted that since there was no handicapped plates or hang tag, or someone else lived there, but I also doubted that or he just kept his car even though he couldn't drive it anymore. My theory is that he couldn't give up his car even if he couldn't drive it – sort of giving up a last piece of independence.

As the years passed there were small hints of change. Five years ago the grass was always cut and the trimming was done. Mary stood among the flower bed, no weeds to bother her. As time passed, the grass stood taller around Mary, but the grass was still cut. I wondered about the old man. Was it getting harder for him to find someone to help? I doubt that he could do the yard work. Maybe he couldn't afford to pay someone anymore. I worried. This spring things got much worse. The grass wasn't cut at all. It got taller and taller. It finally got cut but since that time, it's never been kept as groomed as it used to be. I couldn't help but think about whether the old man was OK or not.

Today I think the message was clear. He is not OK. Today the house has a ‘for sale’ sign in front of it and Mary is gone. Gone. I almost stopped in my tracks. She is gone. I turned the corner trying to push on in my usual fashion, looked up and said my words in prayer..."Thank you God for another day," without much feeling. I did push on. My thoughts were making me dizzy. I wondered why I was so upset over a silly little statue. It seemed a little crazy. It's just a cheezy version of Mary, Mother of Jesus in the flower bed. I can still offer a prayer when I go by, but it's just not the same. And what of the old man? Is he dead? Gone to a nursing home? Where did he go?

My brain tells me that it's just a symbolic gesture and I can continue with the same routine even without Mary if I really want to. I think part of my problem is how important this was in my routine. It's like taking a piece of my daily life and removing it without notice. I’m thinking about calling the realtor. I need to know about the old man.

On a selfish note, I wonder if Mary is for sale.

Still

Still got Shama-lama-ding-dong playing in my head.

A Call to Microsoft or Welcome to India

I had to call the Microsoft help desk tonight. All I wanted to do was register my MS Office Professional that I just finished installing on a brand new computer. Because I installed it on my old computer, it required a phone call, it would not allow me to activate over the Internet. So here’s how the conversation went:

Tech: “Good evening, welcome to Microsoft. Are you calling regarding Office Professional 2003?”

OK, apparently the number I dialed is directly linked to MS Office Products, good job Microsoft!

Me: “Yes. I need to activate my software.”

Tech: “May I have the first 6 digits of your activation ID?”

Me: “011014”

Tech: “011?”

Me: “Yes, zero one one zero one four.”

Tech: “014?”

Me: “Yes, I mean no..well sort of... zero…one…one…zero…one…four.”

Tech: “011?”

Me: “YES, ZERO…..ONE…..ONE…..ZERO…..ONE…..FOUR!”

Tech: “OK.”

Me: “May I ask your name?”

Tech: “My name is Shamaramu.”

Is it because Animal House has been on HBO at least 10 times in the last week or did I really just hear him say Shama- lama-ding-dong?

Tech: “Is this software installed on another computer?”

Me: “Yes, it’s on my laptop and now I want to put it on my new computer.”

OK technically I lied, I want to put it on Jeff’s new computer and I know that Microsoft doesn’t allow you to share software among family members, but I am a user of this computer so I say no harm no foul.

Tech: “Did this software come with the new computer or did you purchase it separately?”

Me: “Well actually, neither. I am a beta tester for Microsoft so they sent me the software for free as a thank you.”

Tech: “Did this software come with the new computer or did you purchase it separately?”

I think he’s reading a script. I bet he can’t really even speak English. Pick one of the two answers, dummy.

Me: “I purchased it separately.”

Shama: “OK. I will give you the activation ID number 6 digits at a time. Please type in the appropriate boxes… nnnnnn-nnnnnn-nnnnnn-nnnnnn-nnnnnn-nnnnnn.”

This took 5 minutes because he talked so slow. I thought I would never get through it. I wish I would have written it down, I had enough time!

Me: “The numbers are in I clicked next.”

Lama: “Please click next.”

I KNEW he was reading a script.

Me: “OK.”

Ding-Dong: “Please click finish.”

Me: “OK. It’s working. Thank you.”

Tech: “Is there anything else I can do for you.”

Me: “No, thank you.”

Tech: “Have a good evening.”

That must be confusing there since it's gotta be close to morning there.

Wisconsin State Fair 2006

Things we did at the fair:

1. Saw the world’s largest shoe.
2. Drank wine with a snack of grapes, bread & olive oil at the Stones Throw Winery.
3. Listened to a jazz band.
4. Admired all the quilts and the clothing on display in the Wisconsin Expo building.
5. Ran the other way from the junk peddlers in that building.
6. Walked through the DNR Park and checked out the deer antlers and the fish.
7. Ate mozzarella cheese sticks.
8. Stopped at the WE booth to see about getting a new cookie cook book.
9. Ate a tostada.
10. Ate a spring roll.
11. Checked out the 2007 Harleys.
12. Strolled through the Wisconsin Products Pavilion to see the prize winning foods.
13. Jeff got a strawberry sundae and I got a chocolate milk.
14. Jeff bought me a ‘got milk?’ glass. It’s really cool.
15. Walked through the barns.
16. Petted a baby cow. Jack and Jill were born two weeks ago, and Jill was out for a walk.
17. Walked the AG building. There was a veggie race going on, didn’t stay to see if the squash or the potato won.
18. Perused the Milwaukee Mile Marketplace. Same old junk.
19. Got in the cream puff line and picked up a 6-pack of cream puffs to take home.

MS Best Dam Bike Tour 2006

I never rode my bike like this before, so many miles, so many hills. What a great time. The scenery was beautiful, the people were friendly, the ride was well planned out. The volunteers were wonderful and I will do it again.

Things I learned on this ride:

• Pack more clothes. It rained and I should have brought a jacket.
• Train on hills and in the wind. I could handle it but it would have been
  nice if it was easier.
• Take Monday off. It's hard to get up at 5 on Monday morning when I had to
  get up at 5 on Saturday and Sunday. I need a day to sleep in.
• Don't spend so much time at the rest stops. Get water and get going.
• Eat big at breakfast and light at lunch. Lunch wore me down.
• Use the services that are offered. I should have gotten a massage.

Five on Friday Meme

Name your top five favorite television shows that have been cancelled.

1. Thirtysomething
2. St. Elsewhere
3. Evening Shade
4. Northern Exposure
5. Cybill

I could also list Murphy Brown, Six Feet Under, Chicago Hope, and Soap in this category. Since I don't watch much TV, I'm surprised I came up with so many answers.