Hanging With “Old” Friends Never Gets Old

Jeff and Steve relax at CMU Homecoming

The term “old friends” is starting to take on a new meaning.  Saturday was Homecoming at CMU so I connected with my “old” friends, Jeff and Steve.  The three of us met back in 1976 as freshman in Thorpe Hall.  As we talked Saturday, we remembered how the juniors and seniors living in Thorpe seemed so old.  Now here we were, 32 years later, complaining about bad knees, sore backs, hearing loss and more. 

All three of us used to run for fun back in college.  Jeff even did a couple marathons during our years in Mt. Pleasant.  But the years have brought aches and pains that have slowed all of us and right now I’m the only one still able to log miles.  Thanks God for good genes, and relatively healthy knees! 

I’ve met many people over the years that used to be runners but can’t do it any more.  Most wish they still could but some physical limitation has stopped them, not the lack of willingness.  I guess God just made each body differently so some hold up to the rigors of running longer than others.  Most of the time I doubt the physical problems are anything the individual could have avoided.  It just happens.  So, be thankful for the shape you’re in, no what that shape is.  Because there will always be someone with more problems than you.  And if you are able to run or do other physical activities, don’t miss that chance, because you may not be able to later.

    

From the Dream Cruise to the Green Cruise all in one run.

Summer nights in Metro Detroit used to mean Cruising.  Driving around looking for friends, or making new friends while racing cars away from the lights on Woodward Avenue.  And now the third Saturday in August is the annual Woodward Dream Cruise. It’s a huge event with about a million people lined up for 10 miles along Woodward watching classic cars cruise.  

Last Saturday morning as I was about five miles into a fifteen mile run I was heading into downtown Clawson.  A small city with a classic downtown Main Street.  And Main Street was lined with people in lawn chairs under canopies, to protect from the sun, while they watched classic cars cruise slowly through town in a Pre-Woodward Dream Cruise mini-event.  There were bright red ‘57 Chevys, a yellow ‘70 Dodge Charger, a racing green ‘75 Mustang II and dozens more.  Someone had the Beach Boys cranked up for everyone within a block to hear.  As I negotiated my way through the crowds I was thinking about cruising Woodward in high school with my friend Joe in his 1974 Nova SS.  Windows down, wind blowing’ and tires squealing.

Then, about five miles later as I was heading into downtown Ferndale, another small city with a classic downtown, I heard a marching bass drum and saw flags and bicycle riders coming down the main street.  I remembered then that Ferndale was holding the ”Green Cruise” that Saturday.  The Sierra Club was promoting it to get people to give up cars for a morning and walk or pedal to save gas.  At least that was my impression of the event.  So that got me thinking, yes, I should ride my bike more often.  Instead of drivingthe a half-mile to pick up a gallon of milk at the mini-mart I could ride my bike.  Or when I just need a small part for a repair project, the hardware store is an easy 10 minute bike ride away.

So in one fifteen mile run I had gone from Dream Cruise and gas-burning muscle cars to the Green Cruise and gas-saving pedal power.  I was amused by that and also glad that I’m still able to use good old footpower and log fifteen miles on a Saturday morning.

Musical Memories

It’s funny how music can take your mind back to a specific time or place.  I didn’t have time to run this morning and it snowed this afternoon so I ran my 6 miles this evening on the treadmill.  I usually listen to my ipod on the treadmill but for some reason tonight I decided to turn on the radio.  The station it was on was playing songs for their “Saturday Night Dance Party”.  So, for the next 57 minutes (today was a slow pace day) I was at The Alibi in Mt. Pleasant, MI circa 1977-79 with ”Working at the Car Wash” and “I’m just a love machine” getting people to the dance floor.  The 6 miles flew by as I thought about those days 30 years ago sitting at the table laughing with my roommates Steve and Jeff and trying to get up the nerve to ask a girl to dance.   

I’d never want to go back to those days but I also hope I will never forget them.