Racing Sea Turtles

I fell asleep on the couch again...slept in until 9 again. (surprise) I dreamt that I was a few years older, a few years wiser, and a few pounds lighter. When I awoke I thought, "I should go for a run today." First I went over all the reasons I should do it, then I went over all the reasons I didn't really feel like it, then I went over all the more interesting things I could be doing with my time, and the list went on... and on. 11 o'clock rolled around, I was eating applesauce and sitting on the couch typing up an article for the paper-the glass door to my left was letting in the beautiful Hawaiian sunlight, and I remembered my earlier idea to exercise. I thought, "Oh but I'm so entangled in this article, I just HAVE to finish it!"....12 o'clock rolled around, now I was paying bills, listening to country, and contemplating painting my nails. The idea struck me again and I fought it off with, "Well high-noon is a bad time to be out in the sun... I'd get 3rd degree burns."...1 o'clock rolled around, and I had finally exhausted my excuses. My roommates were all gone and I had no distractions, my rear end was numb from sitting down, and that beautiful sun was just begging me to come out and play. I sighed a sorrowful sigh, then slowly walked to my room and changed into my running shorts. I grabbed my ipod and armband, and dragged my feet outside.

I dropped my water bottle and towel at the end of Temple Beach so I'd have something to come back to...I steadily gained enthusiasm for the upcoming exercise, it's surprising what just being out in the sun can do for you. I turned the volume up as the Fugees got my blood pumping, and I started to run.

I made it past the Temple and Hukilau beaches and took a break to watch some kite boarders do their thing. While so doing, I saw a shadow moving on the water. At first I thought it was a log or something, and then over the next wave I saw a small head pop up. It was a beautiful baby sea turtle! I watched her float in the water for a few moments, and then I resumed my run. And out of the corner of my eye I saw the turtle (whom I named Shelly) swimming the same direction I was running! I was able to keep pace with her pretty well for the first....like minute and a half... and then she disappeared into the deep blue. I stopped and saw my new surroundings, and realized I hadn't been that far along the beach before.

After racing with a sea turtle, hopefully it won't take me as long to get out of the house tomorrow.
What a beatiful day this was, what beautiful places I saw, what a lovely friend I met :)