Thankful
'The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking'
Not too long ago, I stumbled across this quotation by Mark Twain, from a book of travel stories he published in 1880, called A Tramp Abroad. In it, Twain’s stories depict the travels he and a fictionalized version of his real-life best friend, on their journey through parts of Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy.
Their aim is to walk the entire route they take across the continent; that doesn’t always work out. That’s okay, though, as the adventures are (of course) amazing. What I love especially, however, is this observation Twain shares, about traveling with a companion:
“Now, the true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking. The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk. It is no matter whether one talks wisdom or nonsense, the case is the same, the bulk of the enjoyment lies in the wagging of the gladsome jaw and the flapping of the sympathetic ear.”
I think this is what I’ve enjoyed the most about writing and running with you all this year — the conversations we have, the things we share in our weekly chats, and the things I learn from you. Yes, I write the newsletter each week, but you all make it what it is, a true community of runners that now reaches all across the U.S. and into dozens of countries.
Thanks so much for being here. Writing The Half Marathoner has been the best part of my life as a writer, and I’m so glad you’re on this journey too. (Also, we get to share a passion that’s good for us and helps us feel better — as my mother told me recently, “your health is your wealth.”)
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and if you’re not in the U.S., that you enjoy a restful rest of your week — as always, keep in touch and let me know how your running/life is going.
Your friend,
— Terrell
For a number of years I have split my time between Niantic CT and Charlottesville VA. My lifestyle in Charlottesville was nearly all pedestrian. My car parked and sat until I went to the airport two weeks later. Walking everywhere connected me to the town and its pulse in ways that long time residents never knew. The Twain quote refers to the act of talking. I might add that when one has a pedestrian lifestyle many "objects" speak to them. The cobblestones, brick sidewalks. The trees in their seasonal changes. The wheeling of provisions to local restaurants as the sun comes up. A fountain bubbling along. The various stranger/friends, people routinely seen and greeted and might never know their name. I'd expand the quote to include actively listening. A good part of this also is my lifestyle in Niantic. Yet I am much more car dependent. Services are a distance away. I might cycle there - yet the roads are narrow, minimal shoulders and drivers are distracted. My optimal situation would be a merger of the two environments. I'd be happy saying farewell to the automobile and live as pedestrian as possible as long as it was near the ocean! :-) With roads that featured broad shoulders and drivers who drive vs drive and text or drive and eat or drive and clip their fingernails or drive and scold their back seat child! Happy Thanksgiving all!
You have a gift … one that continues to inspire the folks in this community to strive for their best. Will leave you with my annual thanksgiving ditty … Guy goes to grocery store and is looking at the frozen turkeys. Stockboy comes over and asks,”Can I help you?” Guy points at the turkeys and asks, “Do these get any bigger?” Stockboy responds,”No sir. They’re all dead!” Hope everyone has a warm holiday.