The weather has been raw and wrought with an unforgiving cold lately. Just when I thought we were done with winter, the old man comes back with a vengeance. This makes my predawn walks exercises in tedium and perseverance. Around mile three my face and hands grow numb and no amount of rubbing them will warm them.
2am found me on the last leg of journey as I walked into the parking lot of that convenience store I so frequent these days. My usual and favorite beady eyed clerk was standing behind the counter looking at another porno mag. I shuddered to think what he did with his spare time when no one was in the store looking at such magazines. It was not a pretty thought. He is not the most attractive of beasts.
“Hey stranger,” He said, genuinely glad to see me as he scurried to put the porno under the counter, looking flustered.
“Good morning,” I said as I walked past him to go straight back to the drinks cooler to get an ice cold Gatorade.
“I didn’t see you last night,” He told me as I stepped up to the counter.
“I actually slept last night and got a good night’s sleep,” I said. “I took four Tylenol PM and it knocked me out.”
“I heard Tylenol can ruin your liver so I don’t take it,” The clerk told me.
“Anything, drug wise, can ruin your liver if you take enough of it,” I replied.
“True,” The clerk said as he rung me up and I handed him my money.
I bid the clerk farewell and continued on with my walk. 3am found me walking up my driveway chilled to the bone. Maggie exuberantly greeted me at the door and I parked myself in front of my heater to get warm. Just another day in the life of a lonely insomniac. I sure missed Carolyn this morning.
5 comments:
I dont think I can ever walk as calmly as u do in those 1 am walks. Halfway through I will probably imagine ghosts or sth creepy following me n I will be running for my life the rest of the way. I prefer to go for early morning jogs as I love to watch the sun rise!
The walk sounded nice, even if it was bitter cold. Sometimes I have to go out in the dark morning just to feel the numbing cold. It does something to me.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain -- and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,
But not to call me back or say good-bye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
O luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I hope you were able to crawl into a warm and comfy bed after that walk. I cannot imagine your sleepless nights; it has to be torturous.
I really miss Alabama. :-(
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