My favorite Frost poem, because no matter how much we fight it, we were never meant to keep it all bottled up inside.
We make ourselves a place apart
Behind light words that tease and flout,
But oh, the agitated heart
Till someone really find us out.
'Tis pity if the case require
(Or so we say) that in the end
We speak the literal to inspire
The understanding of a friend.
But so with all, from babes that play
At hide-and-seek to God afar,
So all who hide too well away
Must speak and tell us where they are.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The red tray
Two years ago, I did a terrible thing. I stole a red lunch tray from Subway. Now my theft was entirely unintentional. But that is no justification for my action. Today I finally took the opportunity to rectify my wrong.
See, on a Fall day much like today, back in 2006, I went with some co-workers to Subway. I ordered my sub for "here", with the expectation of eating right outside the restaurant and enjoying the beautiful weather. But when we walked outside, we noticed all of the tables were taken, so we decided to carry on to the square a few hundred yards away. I noticed everyone else had gotten their meals "to go", but I figured I could eat in the square, and then quickly return my tray. But once we got to the square, we noticed all of the tables had been put away for the Winter. To my dismay, the decision was made to walk all the way back to the office and eat there. I was faced with a challenging decision: either walk back to Subway, return the tray, and then hurry back alone, or carry on with my tray and stay with my friends. I chose the latter. Once back at the office, I found myself stuck with one bright red Subway tray. I had stolen it. I could not look myself in the mirror for the rest of the day. But I vowed I would return it at the earliest opportunity.
I did not live up to my vow. That tray sat in my office for close to 2 years, and amassed enough dust to prove it. But today, in view of the whole world, I walked back to Subway with my dust-covered tray. My friends thought I was a fool. Why did I still have this tray? Why on earth didn't I throw it away, or even recycle it? But, I tell you, that tray was not my tray to wantonly dispose of. Yes, it would have been easier to just toss into a garbage can, and my office would have looked better without that bright red dusty tray. But today I endured the shame and disgrace, and returned it to its rightful owners. And I feel that a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. And my office looks a little sharper.
See, on a Fall day much like today, back in 2006, I went with some co-workers to Subway. I ordered my sub for "here", with the expectation of eating right outside the restaurant and enjoying the beautiful weather. But when we walked outside, we noticed all of the tables were taken, so we decided to carry on to the square a few hundred yards away. I noticed everyone else had gotten their meals "to go", but I figured I could eat in the square, and then quickly return my tray. But once we got to the square, we noticed all of the tables had been put away for the Winter. To my dismay, the decision was made to walk all the way back to the office and eat there. I was faced with a challenging decision: either walk back to Subway, return the tray, and then hurry back alone, or carry on with my tray and stay with my friends. I chose the latter. Once back at the office, I found myself stuck with one bright red Subway tray. I had stolen it. I could not look myself in the mirror for the rest of the day. But I vowed I would return it at the earliest opportunity.
I did not live up to my vow. That tray sat in my office for close to 2 years, and amassed enough dust to prove it. But today, in view of the whole world, I walked back to Subway with my dust-covered tray. My friends thought I was a fool. Why did I still have this tray? Why on earth didn't I throw it away, or even recycle it? But, I tell you, that tray was not my tray to wantonly dispose of. Yes, it would have been easier to just toss into a garbage can, and my office would have looked better without that bright red dusty tray. But today I endured the shame and disgrace, and returned it to its rightful owners. And I feel that a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. And my office looks a little sharper.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
My body is like a furnace
Today, after finishing a tough 20 mile run, I started shivering and couldn't stop (this is a semi-normal experience after tough workouts). The ice bath afterward didn't help. Now, several hours and several slices of pizza later, I am feeling pretty hot, even though my window is open to 59 degree weather. Seriously, it's like I am a furnace. I burned all my fuel and my fire was out. Then I restocked it with pizza, and half a gallon of milk, and its burning too hot. Strange but fascinating.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)