"What's really happening..."

My blood results were in, my doctor tells me don't worry, it's probably nothing. If it was nothing why do we need further tests and antibiotic treatment? It may be nothing, probably is nothing, but the paranoia in the back of my head starts thinking about the end.

None of us know how long we have to live, it's a mystery. We could be in a car wreck tomorrow, or get hit in a crosswalk by a bus, or find out you have untreatable stage 4 cancer and are given 6 months to live, but go on of for 20 more years.

This all gets one thinking about life and how you treat others and how others treat you.

How do we know that the waitress we are irritable with because she forgot our water, or took the order for the table that came in after us, before us, might be because she just heard heart wrenching news?

Maybe a loved one just died, maybe she just got positive results form a mammogram, maybe she's getting divorced?

Next time your driving, walking or visiting with friends and see the person next to you crying, or next time someone in the service business is forgetful, or someone seems to be mistreating you, give a smile, give a head nod, or if it feels right initiate a hug, it may just be what makes their day. I am betting it will most definitely make yours too!

"Marathons are becoming full time jobs..."

I am not a marathon runner however many of friends and relatives enjoy the hoopla, energy and health benefits of the marathon scene.

People from all over the world actually go on tour,scheduling one marathon after another. Many marathons have a high purse for the top finishers, and other less known marathons are run just for the sport.

Most marathons are usually won by runners from Kenya or Ethiopia, these people overwhelmingly control the finish line. Since 1997 five Kenyan men have won the New York marathon and  the fifth time for a Kenyan woman since 1994. In addition, Kenyan men have won all but one of the past 12 Boston Marathons.
http://marathon.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/ethiopian-system-built-to-groom-marathoners/

How many Americans travel to Kenya or Ethiopia to run in Marathons? My guess is not many for the obvious reason, it is not easy economics, that's if those countries even have marathons?

I feel that Marathons in the United States should be for citizens of the United States, other countries could enter but not take the purse. The same for other countries sponsoring marathons. I believe only the citizens of the host country should be eligible for the purse.

Marathons in the United states are becoming full time jobs for many Kenyans and Ethiopians, it's time we keep the money in our own backyard and support America!