The Second Running Of The Mister Rogers’ Memorial Madaket Triathlon
I am lying on my back in the sand waiting on a shooting star. The surf rolls and crashes all around. The Milky Way stretches out overhead like a sideways halo. And then it happens as quickly as it hadn’t: streaking eastward across the gauzy veil of stars, a shining speck of dust glows bright white, then vanishes.
I am shaking off the city here, the strum and din of the MTA, the MTV, and the empty soul. The great and infinite celestial watch works overhead reminds me, slowly and steadily, that all is well and unfolding as it should.
Chris, Jen, and Ethan returned home this afternoon. The cottage is quiet now, if a little lonesome. I napped off my lunchtime beer — ahhhhh, vacation — then made two trips to to Young’s Bicycles in town to return three mountain bikes, a baby trailer and stroller. The six o’clock ferry was departing with the last load of summer tourists. Everywhere, locals were breathing a sigh of relief that summer was gone. Mine, oddly enough, has just begun.
The second running of the Mister Rogers’ Memorial Madaket Triathlon went off without a hitch yesterday, excepting the late start on account of the Race Director’s hangover. I was first in a field of four with a time of 1:17:00, though I seemed to be the only one actually racing. Jen had already put in her miles prior to the race, and Chris had the added responsibility of first towing, then pushing Ethan along the course. The swim — which only Chris and I completed — was chilly. They bay was churned cloudy by the wind and waves. I couldn’t help but think of sharks, but was comforted by the fact that just over the dunes, seals frolicked in the ocean. If there are sharks, they would surely rather dine on seal then me.
The seals, like shooting stars, the sound of the waves, and the brilliant hues of sunset, are ample reminder of a world that is so easy to miss just outside the window. The vistas are great and many, and shifting with every moment. And they’re ripe for the picking. It is really just a question of opening one’s eyes, and looking up.
I Am An Island
