As I write this blog today, it is beginning to snow, and as we say in the country, it is beginning to lay as well - to stick to the cold ground, white and pure, covering up all the kindling blown down in the yard that I have not yet had the time to pick up. The forecast calls for 5 to 8 inches, as well as some freezing rain which, the weatherman warned darkly, may stick to power lines and cause outages.
And yet, I can also hear as I write, in the background, the soft reassuring hum of our woodstove, quietly pouring heat into our house, and the furnace clicking on from time to time as well. There is a big stack of wood (three stacks, actually, in various states of proximity to the back door and readiness to be burned) and plenty of fuel oil in the tank. The furnace was serviced last week. We have plenty of soup and other canned food. And if (or when) the power goes out, we have a generator in the basement with a spark plug I replaced this month which I cranked Saturday to be sure it would start.
It is a good feeling to be resourceful. In a world filled with uncertainty, with sickness and death and violence, we can take some small comfort in knowing that we are just a little bit in charge of a small piece of property, a small house. We can address the essentials: build a fire, stay warm, eat, stay safe. And as runners, it is also important to be resourceful: to train smart, to nourish ourselves with healthy food, to rest when we need to rest.
Today I realize that I am a little sore from the effort of that hilly race yesterday, so it is a time of rest and a day of gratitude. And a day to enjoy our resources as the snow quietly lays, deeper and deeper.
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