Yeah! I pretty much showed that Peachtree Road Race who's boss. To quote weatherman John John Mackie... [er, better not]   Anyway, I ran the race in 46:05, which comes out to 7:25 minute miles! I was grinning all the way home, and I'm proudly wearing the t-shirt right now.

In other news, granny turned 80 today. I gave her a call and talked with her and with grampa. They both seemed to be doing very well, which is good to hear. Grampa's quote was the best. When I told him that I'd run a race today, along with 55,000 other people, he responded, "That's not a race. That's an evacuation!"

Which is interesting... I've grown sick of hearing about "the events of September 11th" parroted back by everyone from politicians to companies trying to explain their failed business plans. But with that many people bunched together on in one place on the 4th of July, I have to admit I was paying a slightly more than casual interest to the tiny figures atop the surrounding skyscrapers, and was glad to see a cop up there too. Of course the five or six news helicopters buzzing around looking for stories (and pretty much drowning out the national anthem) are probably even more effective at spotting trouble!

It does make one think, though, that what America really is is a bunch of people, who are mostly concerned with living out their lives, having barbecues, raising kids, and occasionally getting up at five in the morning to run a race with 55,000 other people just for the fun of it. In all the sparkle and glitter and hype of the media trying to sell us an even bigger thrill than last time, you can forget that real life happens down on the ground, and that there really is something magical about seasons and holidays and celebrations.

Happy 4th of July!