It began as normal as can be. Me yearning for the taste of the wilderness
and accepting the 40lb stroller I push down the pavement. With the
mountains at my back I slunk along, 12 minute miles my post baby norm. Unsure of my course but knowing my
destination I stayed along the Truckee River.
I was unprepared for the emotions that the humans and course would
cause.
Here are a few examples. The homeless women with her service Chihuahua
telling me the route which was better. The three 60 year old tourists clutching
their purses tightly as we all shuffled past the enormous vagina sculpture. The tourists scared of the teenagers skateboarding in
the roller derby rink and me wondering if I would like try roller derby. The chef walking up the steps of his
restaurant about to learn whether or not his sough chefs had prepared adequately
for the dinner hour. The homeless men sleeping undisturbed on the restaurant's steps. The18 year old kid with bow calf tattoos swishing quickly next to a pair of extra long male calves. The stoic looking Canada goose standing still
in the middle of the shallow rapids as a male and female mallard swiftly
floated by. The hipsters sitting on a bench feverishly talking about religion
next to an elderly black couple sitting on a bench feverishly talking about
religion. The chatty women walking on
their 15 minute work breaks fully embracing their hand gestures, business
casual, and sneakers. The 80+ year old
man running by and making room for my stroller both times we passed. The CEO proudly walking by in her heals. The 40 year old wearing cargo pant's from
2002 whose backpack suggested he was just getting out of class. The couple clipping stark straight willow branches on a sand bar and picturing the perfect artwork they would be making. The smile from the man cleaning the catering
grill on the patio of the restaurant. The
enormous wet black dog winking at me with his one blue eye as he cruised on by.
The lack of trash. I expected at the least one well worn sleeping bag tucked in
a crack near the river on Virginia I’d have even taken some fast food trash as acceptable. Nope nada.
As I left the strip and rounded Booth St my heart leapt into my throat,
I had to slow down and check to see whether or not my kiddo was seeing this
also. I was unprepared for the emotions
the view of the mountains, whose
elevations contain 4 and 5 digits, would cause.
There was a time when their peaks would have been my daily ambition. On today's run I was more than satisfied to
push my snoozing toddler by all of this humanity and scenery and think to myself: How do
people not know how great Reno is?
