I Have Seen Eternity in an Hour Too, Dear Blake

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by Arundhati Basu

When I head out on a run every evening, I admire the late autumnal bounty we have had here. The leaves are shedding in drifts of gold and burnt red and it is a most poetic thing when they waft around your person. The park is a massive bed of dried leaves gathering in clumps because the cleaning authorities want to keep it clean, but dammit, the trees will have their way just the way I shed hair. The sunsets are golden, pure liquid amber, and everything is glorious or it looks glorious at any rate. The air is razor-edged as the sharpest sabre must be.

Yesterday I felt the brunt of it for the first time. The phone informed me 1°C. A warm beanie, two layers of insulation and leather gloves should have done half the job you would think. I also tucked in Kleenex for good measure because the nose had its own mind and if it wants to make itself felt in the stinging air, I might as well be prepared. The concierge warned me about the freezing air but I just smiled as if to say, I know sistah, but then I ran out and it was an utter douchebag that knocked the wind out of me. Yet I had to try. With wind chill it was about -2°C and I refused to breathe as much as I could help it. Gulls soared, some wondrously floating mid-air upon the river. No one was out on the park except for two joggers in the distance who soon disappeared. That was it. The entire stretch of parks, running tracks, riverfront…they were desolate. The many boys and girls who practise soccer in the fields, play basketball…nada.

And then the wind whipped the Kleenex clean out of my pockets. Twice. It rolled with full speed all over the place and I had to chase it up and down hilly mounds. You cannot dump Kleenex unceremoniously in such climes.

Forty minutes out there… it felt like eternity. 

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So I did what I do best, run to the coffee shop, which seemed to have moved further away than it should on a biting evening. Later at the store near the coffee shop, I was bright enough to buy an early Christmas prezzie for Adi. A giant stuffed polar bear. Obviously they did not have a bag. Obviously I am a doofus. I lugged a big bear wrapped around me along with heavy baking goods, sugar, flour… when my legs screamed at me for mercy, the few people on the road laughing, some saying, ‘How big is he!’ Right. Tell Brilliant Brains about it.

Those 24 blocks are hanging heavy about my neck now. An albatross. It promises to be an interesting winter.

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Arundhati Basu

The great affair in my life is to travel. I count myself immensely fortunate that my partner shares this passion. We are a team that likes to spend time planning and plotting out places to go. Destination check, flights check, accommodation check, cheesy grins check. Off we go.

42 thoughts on “I Have Seen Eternity in an Hour Too, Dear Blake”

    1. I would lovingly lump one over to you. He had brothers who were left behind! I know I think I have to either push my body or retire to working indoors which pales in comparison. xx

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  3. You’d better give bear the armchair as I’m certain he’s left no room for the two of you on the couch! I find it incredibly admirable that you continued with your run in that sort of weather. I probably would have gone two blocks just to prove to the concierge that I had the grit and then feigned a sprained ankle and limped back in with a look of disappointment.

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    1. Lyz I was considering but then I Needed coffee. I will do anything for coffee. The concierge has got the measure of me by now. Plus she saw me lug in our big boy here so I shall not be able to live That down.
      He will need a chair of his own, you are right. The grave question is, does he get my recliner or not. xx

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  4. Yes! Heard about the weather getting cold for you in the East Coast. Sounds like a good time to have some hot chocolate and snuggle up to a polar bear, Er, ah… your husband 😉 Take care and keep warm! – Neek

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    1. If I cannot take Mahomet to the mountain,… 24 blocks of numbness to get him home. I would have got violent if there was anything less than whoops!
      Thank you Alex. A Cranachan cheesecake was baked thereafter to welcome the fella home.

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  7. Man, it’s still reaching 70F in California. I’d love a white Christmas – in fact, Christmas in New York is one of my dreams! Stay warm!

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  11. Oh gosh, those temperatures sound bloody scary! I went to England earlier this year for a holiday and I was always going on about how freezing it was. I woke up to 1 degree temperatures like, every morning. Torturous. Definitely don’t miss that part!

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    1. Tracey, to run with him would have been a challenge 😀 Fortunately he came way at the end of the run.
      At night when we wake up to go to the loo he startles us still. I hope to be less started with time. It’s the girth I believe. Not body shaming though – just sayin’. xx

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  15. “So I did what I do best, run to the coffee shop, which seemed to have moved further away than it should on a biting evening.” – loved this! I feel that way, too, in my nascent running program … really? That end-of-the-block ahead is sooo far away! Aurgh! Love the giant bear. It takes great fortitude to purchase such a huge whimsical item and then lug it around, Dippy-Dotty Girl! Congrats! 🙂

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    1. Hahaha thanks Theresa 🙂 I know you appreciate the running endeavours in my life. The giant bear has his own spot on the couch and is a conversant fellow (yeah this woman is a nutcase ;)). He has an otter, donkey, an owl and a hedgehog for company. xx

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      1. Those sound like wonderful companions! 🙂 Yes, I’m still doing my novice running program, and this week I got up to 2 min run/2 min walk. But today I did 30 sec/30 sec to mix it up, whew, it was a challenge. It’s nice to know other friends are running, and I’m in the “running world”! Hah!

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