Cardiac Hill (Dipsea Trail Run)

Im reminded of the Twilight Zone episode in which the guy who loved to read found the world
destroyed and the only thing left was him & the library. And then his glasses got broken.

I went off to work this morning without my glasses. Driving was no problem, but work is hard.
I keep reaching for my "readers" that usually spend the day on a cord around my neck.
Im blowing all fonts up to at least 14 point.

This weekend is Fathers Day and Im running behind on my project for Dad.
Lunch is at my sisters place. It should be a fun afternoon.

The running of the annual Dipsea was last Sunday morning.
For over 100 years, they have been running from Mill Valley, via Muir Woods to Stinson Beach.
I was doing communications down on the back side of Cardiac Hill.

Before heading down into the canyon, I noted that our permit allowed 3 vehicles there.
1 for Red Cross, 1 for the water stop crew and 1 for communications.
I noted that we had: 2 for Red Cross, 2 for the water stop, 1 for communications, 2 AMR
ambulances, 1 motorcycle from Marin Search & rescue, 4 Marin sheriff Search & Rescue,
4 more State Parks, 1 more from Stinson Beach Fire etc. What a mess !

Just before the sweeps came in, I headed back up to Cardiac to help break down.
I was just walking and the hill nearly killed me. BOY am I outta shape !

My shift down in "Deer Park" was quiet. The drama happened towards the end just above
Steep Ravine with 3 medical issues. When we left the hill, we popped by the rangers residence
and found the place wide open deserted. Passing White Gate just above The Moors, there is a
trail head that connects into the trail. There were more that 2 dozen vehicles down there.
Marin SAR, Marin Sheriff, CHP, Stinson Beach Fire, State Parks, AMR ambulance etc.

Barbeque lunch was refreshing, especially a couple of "Mikes Hard Lemonade" and some spectacular
ribs. You could taste the smoke all the way to the bone.

Jeff Foxworthy recently observed:
"Show me a 3 year old running around Walmart in nothing but his underpants, drinking CocaCola
from a baby bottle, and Ill show you a future NASCAR fan!"

ECHS Fine Arts Reunion

Unfortunately, my class has decided not to do a reunion this year, 5 years after the last.
I think this is a bad idea because people are starting to die off and every 10 years just
isnt often enough.

Fortunately, the Fine Arts (theatre & music) have an annual gathering with people from
many different classes. Saturday, the day before the Dipsea,we met at out old haunt
LaVals Pizza in Berkeley.

Life has a habit of giving you a well deserved "wedgie" sometimes. Its usually well deserved.

It was my turn.I never thought much of one of my sisters friends, Kathy. Kathy was with us in
band & theatre. I didnt realize it at the time, but not only did she take auto shop every year
for 4 years, but she was the 1st girl in auto shop at our school. She broke a number of other
gender barriers (like my sister, the 1st woman engineer with the City of Richmond). Kathy
hasnt made any reunions, but has managed to stay busy. Shes become quite adept at building
race cars!

She married another racing mechanic and their kids are getting into it as well.
20w50 runs in the veins of that family, for sure.

She didnt make a deal of it. During conversation she referred to auto shop.
I asked "You took AUTO shop?"
"Yeah, all 4 years. I was the 1st girl in the class"
At this point, I was stammering & hyperventilating, and she was having a ball watching the
reaction.
"You are a wrench head?" I finally managed to sputter, well into shock.
Clearly, she was enjoying having been underestimated in HS.

This weekend, at lunch, I will tell my sister that she should have made time to go.
And then Ill tell HER the story and watch HER sputter.

No doubt about it, I should NOT underestimate my sisters friends.