Friendship, Raccoons and other stuff

Last weekend I had the opportunity to finally participate in the Detroit Half Marathon with a friend. Lord knows I've tried to get people to head to the "east side" with me in the past but I've always gone....alone. Not that alone is bad - why it was quite a fun experience - I could run when I wanted, walk when I wanted, chat up a stranger and enjoy the time - alone in my head. But this year was different...and fun!

It was comforting to have a friend walk down a dark sidewalk in the early morning hours. I was comforting to have a friend willing to go the distance, without great hair or make up. I was with my friend and it felt good. When we started the half, we were behind the full marathoners and just in front of the half runners - crazy when we came together and headed to the Ambassador Bridge - like a pack of rats running from a flood - weaving in and out trying to find the idea spot to settle into for the long haul. Then the sun came up. Light pinks and orange graced the sky and even though we were running on the industrial side of the river - it was somehow peaceful and disconcerting at the same time. There were many times I glanced at the Ren Cen with its GM logo and I only could wonder what would become of the American automotive industry. Detroit had a heyday and I only wonder why, with its amazing frontage on the water, why it is less than a desirable place to be. Can the city turn? Can the city overcome its reputation?

Why, at dinner the night before, a young gal was eating with us and explained cars get stolen and broken into all the time where she lives. Another young woman confessed her car got stolen at least once a year. Prostitutes roam the streets looking for action - where there seems to be none. It is terribly sad but inspiring at the same time - because some day...Detroit will be the place to 'Be.' If I had the money, I'd buy a place on Woodward or even in Corktown - I suppose I would, if I didn't have a family. What does having a family have to do with it? Well - I suppose I could say I have a responsibility to offer them the best environment I can to nurture them and well - Detroit just isn't it.

So - I'm on the bridge, trying to get Tammy to stop for pictures and she doesn't want to stop - she is driven to make the goal of making the tunnel and not getting on the bus - but I could also tell - she wasn't having a grand time. Friendship. She kept going because she didn't want to disappoint me and I kept slowing down because I didn't want to disappoint her. We promised each other we would stick together and finish together and while I am so competitive and it was hard to do - I kept with my word. Our friendship is more important - and once I came to terms with it - I was ok. I enjoy Tammy and our friendship. We are so different and yet, so much the same.

If you ever want to know what true friendship is - complete a marathon with a friend.

Now. Raccoons. Are they dumb or slow or are there just too many of them? Really - I don't know what it is but I see raccoon roadkill everywhere. I'm not sure if it was on my way to Indiana two weekends ago or driving to Detroit that it struck me funny. Some were fresh - others looked as if they could explode any moment, some - only recognizable because of their tails - but I couldn't get over how many of them were dead. I don't know why I thought it funny - because it really isn't.

Other stuff. We had a parish mission last week and I didn't really understand how a mission works - so I showed up on the last day. Well , it seems every day before builds on the last and this session was sort of a Q & A. The topic of politics came up and who we should vote for - and the recommendation was made to vote for the candidate that falls in line with the moral teachings of the church. Well I struggle with the recommendation and feel that is sort of calling for a blind following - but that is another issue. What did come up that I find right on is the fact the church has abdicated its responsibility to taking care of the hungry, homeless and outcast. As a church - it has let the government take care of the issues and we all know how that is working out.

We pay a lot in taxes to run inefficient programs. We pay a lot of taxes to take care of people - who quite frankly, if given the right tools - could take care of themselves. What has happened? The church is a nonprofit but why? What is it they do for us and our communities? They take money and pass it out to other non-profits in the area - supporting other programs and services. The church is a middle man. Why? There was also a call to have "family" time be more in the areas of service - which I agree. I believe my children have such an advantaged lifestyle they are unable to see the value of what they have. Should I blame them? We are in a community full of wealth - kids walking around with iPhones, iPods, Lucky Brand jeans, Nintendo DS - you name it - they have it and chances are not just one. But what if, what if, we all took the time to put our gadgets down and actually serve?

I took that suggestion to heart and when notified of an opportuntiy that welcomed children (which is another thing I have issues with the Church - children are not welcome to help at many events) I jumped at the chance. My children will be working in a food kitchen next Tuesday night - four hours - serving those who are hungry and in need of a warm place to come together. I hope they learn from the experience - having a variety of food on the table is a luxury - as many nights I hear the chorus "I don't like this...." - I threaten going back to a week of nothing but rice and it seems to work - but hopefully this will be an eye opening experience.

So - here is to friendship, dead animals and serving the community - while there doesn't seem to be a common theme - I think there is.....hope -love and sacrifice.

Skimming

Skimming - it is fun. It is fun to read quickly through something, but it never works for me because then when I'm finished I wonder what I REALLY missed.

For example, a few days ago I was in a waiting room and I picked up a magazine, I think a Newsweek or something because it had a picture of Sarah Palin on the front - headline of something like "Pa lin tology" - she had a hunting rifle over her shoulder with that really flashy smile. So I picked it up - wanted to see what the article was about. (Obviously about Sarah, but I never got that far). So in true Jenny fashion I started from the back of the magazine.

As I was flipping backwards, I ran across an article on Afghanastan and the number of kidnappings in recent months - how the Taliban members are raking in a fortune by kidnapping foreign contractors (as opposed to killing them outright) and asking for ransom. Apparently, they are getting the money so they keep kidnapping. Trouble is - different factions are not reporting thier kidnapping incomes so the No. 2 guy in charge - issued a new handbook.

I find this - while distrubing - extrememly funny at the same time. Has SNL done a skit on this yet? My goodness! The humor comes in the notion that once kidnapping became a source of income for many individuals the leadership takes an interest and wants to make sure they get thier "cut" therefore sending out a new handbook of rules to follow. Wow. I can see it now.

It seems a bit like multi-level marketing doesn't it? The handbook is this really shiny, slick looking piece - has a picture of smiling faces, in front of luxury cars saying "This could be you!"
The idea here is to recruit members - they pay lets say $100.00 for a starter kit (this could be rope, tape, blindfolds) and a territory to cover. For every kidnapping someone pulls of and completes (meaning they get the ransom) they get 30 percent of the total while the upline gets money as well. Don't follow the kidnapping handbook and you lose your ability to do business.

Pretty soon, they could do house parties - showcasing the person they've kidnapped - pretty soon there will be ethical violations, the Taliban will be putting ads on Craigslist, "Want to be a an actor?" "You can be an actor and get paid $50.00 for your role in pretending to be a kidnapping victim. You must have a family or business that would be willing to pay to get you back and based upon your net worth, we may consider paying a bonus. You must be willing to travel alone , must be wiling to work long hours without food or sleep. Please send two photographs and $10.00 in a SASE in order to process an application. Not all applicatants will be accepted. No phone calls."

While this post is so "off" - but so is the kidnapping handbook. Do you think Al Capone had a handbook? I think he was able to exert his influnence without having a manual...

So, back to the aspect of skimming - I missed the Palin article altogether. I only read up to the handbook part of the Taliban article, and saw an artist rendering of a cancer cell before I closed the magazine and put it back on the shelf.