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I was dreaming
one night and my friend Rick Hughes was outside running around in
circles getting ready for a big road race that he was running. I
asked him if he got dizzy running in circles and he said
“McLaughlin, I learned everything I knew from growing up in Alderson,
West
Virginia”.
He refused to admit that he was training for a race much less that
he was running in circles. So I tried a different tact and asked him
if he thought my wife was smarter than me because I knew he knew the
answer to this one. He said “McLaughlin that would be in the
affirmative. “
As I was
running around in circles one day in my dreams getting ready for a
big race, Rick caught me and asked what in the world was I doing
running around in circles. I indicated that I have it on good
counsel that running in circles could actually be better for you
than running in straight lines. I also assured him that it had
nothing to do with preparing for a race because I was afraid that he
would videotape all my practice runs and analyze them to find holes
in my tactics and strategies.
My wife one
time wanted to know why Rick and I ran in circles and every
September ran a race. She asked,” Are you two crazy”. My response,
“The Lord has given me and Rick reasonably good physical health. I
don’t think we dare ask for anything more.”
As I am
running in circles this morning. I start thinking why all the
commotion and money associated with where LeBron James plays
basketball? Rick and I are two honed runners totally committed to
preparing for and participating in the competition. We get very
little publicity and the only compensation is the satisfaction of
using advanced, secretive training formulas to try to beat each
other.
Now it is true
that we no longer pick up our feet when we run. We kind of shuffle
along. Shuffle along to Buffalo.
Did you hear the one about the friend who asked the other friend if
he had flown to
Buffalo
and the friend said, “Yeah and gosh my arms are tired.”
Rick and I
being great athletes don’t have agents, contracts with NBA teams, or
contracts with advertisers. We run in almost complete anonymity
except for the few readers on The Aldersonian who don’t get mad when
we write about our running achievements (namely the ability to one
way or another finish the races every September.)
The
comparisons between Lebron and Rick and I are baffling. James hugs
his competition before and after each game. These guys are all
millionaires with their own individual business model. Competitors.
What?? Rick talks about tripping me before each race and has made
some wild claims that there was a pebble in his shoe with the
intimation that I had something to do with it. I have offered to
watch over Rick’s shoes the night before the race and mislead him on
the starting times in order for him to miss the race. We go out to
eat together after the competition but only because our wives like
each other and go along to keep the peace. Great runners need to
show some humility and vulnerability. I hope Rick is listening to
all of this and getting the assurance that his opponent is
weakening.
It is ironic
that professional athletes who are paid millions dollars to beat
each other in games seem to get along so well with each other. On
the other hand, republicans and democrats who are sent to Washington
to work for the betterment of
America,
don’t seem to get along well at all.
My wandering
mind is jolted by Rick jumping up enthusiastically to greet me and
say,” Hey Al! How have you been?” Rick said,” My grandson Richard,
better known as Ritchie, exact quote. Alderson is pretty Grandpa.
Another exact quote. Why is everyone so friendly in Alderson
Grandpa? It does not get much better than that”
Happy Fourth of July Alderson, West Virginia |
