..........As I ran from Pennsylvania across to Minnesota, then down to Grand Island, Nebraska last week, I was thinking how nice the weather was. No snow, no ice, not even that ghastly cold weather typical of that part of the country. Then my daydreams were interupted by old man winter himself. I spent most of the weekend running from the winter storm that seemed to follow me where ever I went. It caught me twice, once in Iowa, then again in Illinois. I woke up this morning just west of Cleveland, Ohio expecting to see a snow-covered parking lot, but was happy to find only a cold rain. As I write, I find myself in Montpelier, Ohio, close to the Indiana state line. I am picking up a load early in the morning going to Athens, Georgia, then home.
...........I could not help but think about the similarities of running from this winter weather and the events of my life. I wrote a short poem that I would like to share with you.

OUTRUNNING THE STORM

Outrunning the storm,
Like a ghost in the night,
Her fury follows closely,
Breathing cold breath upon my neck.
Outrunning the storm,
She catches me often,
From her icy grip,
I struggle to be free.
Outrunning the storm,
My life I have spent,
Searching for calmer winds,
And cloudless skies,
A place in which to rest.