It is the middle of fall here right now. One of the most absolute beautiful times of the year. The trees are about half full of fall color and the days are brisk. It is a good time to be out in nature.

I had some errands to run yesterday and it was late afternoon when I finished up and decided to stop by and see a friend of mine who had just recently returned from a two month trip to the east coast and back with his mate. They stopped and visited friends all across the country and did a ton of site-seeing. One of those trips of a life time.

So I stopped in to catch up on his trip and then I was going to catch the very late afternoon sun by going for a run down by the river. It was one of those sunny fall days where it is fairly warm when you are in the sun but not so warm when you are in the shade. So I wanted to catch the sun before it went down, which comes earlier and earlier this time of year.

For some reason we kept talking about subject after subject and by the time I left his house it was about a half hour to forty five minutes before sundown. Okay, I am still going for a run. So I get down to the park where I can park my car and start my run and I realize why I kept being delayed at my friend’s house.

I was supposed to be here at this right and perfect time for a “Sunset Run.” This is where I start my run about a half hour before sunset and end the run about a half hour after sunset. It is just the perfect time of evening and tonight was one of those perfect nights.

When I start out a run like this I am so full of gratitude that just being thankful for my life is about all I can think about for the first mile or so of my run. As I write these words I am thankful again for the most wonderful life I am creating. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

My run is along the bike trails that border the Willamette River here in Eugene, Oregon. It is one of the most picturesque bike trails in the world. Especially at this time of the year when the trees are aflame with color and the leaves cover the path and make a mosaic carpet to run on. It is gorgeous.

About half way through my run I have to cross the Owosso Bridge to get to the other side of the river. I love crossing these bridges because you get to see up and down the river and all the birds and animals that populate the river.

Birds are moving right now to get to their nesting place for the night. Lots of ducks and geese flying around. Still lots of light even though the sun is going down. So I cross the bridge and make my way back on the other side of the river.

On this side of the river I can see the sunset and tonight there are these long pinkish rays that play on the clouds to the west to make this really cool pink light in the sky. Totally awesome. This is what a sunset run is all about.

It is hard not to be grateful for everything in life when you experience this kind of show in nature. Me, the river, the sunset, the trees, the birds, the animals, everywhere I look I am privy to this spectacular nature just showing off. Wow, double blessed.

I finish up my run at the Valley River Bridge and as I walk across the bridge to the park where my car is I marvel even more at the way the river water adds so much to our lives. I used to think that the running was the thing I was after but now I realize that the running is just a byproduct of the real thing.

And the real thing is just being out in nature. When you are walking in nature you are attending the theater of life and there is no better show in town.

Live in love,

Richard D. Blackstone

Posted on November 5th, 2009 by Richard
Filed under: Uncategorized