The fall break that wasn't and is yet to come

Feet pounding the pavement. Each impact brings accentuates the ache in the separation of muscle and bone. Arms moving rhythmically back and forth. Hands occasionally wiping the perspiration from the forehead. Earbuds wiggling their way out of ears as the feet continue beating the ground.

I could focus on these things, the wonder of the body and physical movements as I run through Upland on an autumn evening, but I think that would make the run longer. Instead, I decided to listen to the beats and the rhythm of whatever song my playlist selected until one of those earbuds fell out of my ear and I had to put it back in. Does anyone else have that problem?

I also thought about life and student teaching and then I realized that it was a gorgeous evening and I was witnessing the beauty of fall. The locals told me that the leaves were not going to be as pretty this year, due to the dryness, but I still find it beautiful. As I run through neighborhoods, I see giant looming trees of orange and red, colors that are not that common in Colorado. My tennis shoes crushed fallen leaves in their piles as I passed beneath the aging wood. It was spectacular. I wish I could run in autumn all the time!

After running through the neighborhoods, I decided to run around the Loop. For those who do not attend Taylor, the Loop is a sidewalk (ish) that circles campus. Normally, I avoid this running path because everyone does it: Runners, lovers, loners... everyone. But, this is Taylor's fall break, which means I could run it alone. So I did. And it was painful.

It was painful for a lot of reasons. At this point in a college career, people begin to feel nostalgia. "Oh man. I'm a senior. This is my last fall here at Taylor. Where will I be next fall? I'll never be able to walk/run the Loop like this again. This was my last..." Yeah, I won't keep going. You get the picture. Don't worry. I drowned out the soul-searching with Tiao. So, in the end, the Loop was painful because it reminded me that I'm not on Fall Break. It was painful because my shin splints are coming back. I know. World's smallest violin, right?

So, I don't have fall break this weekend. Big deal. I have fall break in one and a half weeks. Two days longer than the fall break my roommates got to enjoy. I'm looking forward to that, believe me. Although, before I numbed myself into a mindless body going through the motions of running, I remember thinking: I don't like taking breaks from my students. Adjusting back to being a teacher after a break is really hard! It's like reconstructing a Jenga tower after some moron just took out one of the foundation blocks: Doable but painstakingly slow. I would much rather not have a break. I'm serious. Weekends are all I can handle. As I continue teaching full time, I'm hoping I'll find the healthy balance... You know, where I look forward to breaks and I don't panic about the Jenga classes.

I've prattled long enough. I do have to say, this fall break of Taylor's has been nice and quiet, which is something I needed much more than time away from campus.