Saturday, September 30, 2006

The Running Man

We used to have a couple of nicknames for Mike, and he patiently indulged us. "Quiet Mike" was the favorite not only because it was an obvious reference to his low-key nature but also his ability to maintain his composure at the center of the daily mayhem that surrounded him, sitting as he did amid John, Jon and Samer.

Samer also used to call him "Bus Stop," because Mike was once hit by a bus as he rode his bike. That one didn't sit too well with Mike or anyone else. Samer thought it was hysterical. Probably still does (sigh).

But now we can call Mike by his new Indian name: "Running Man."

To save us all a lot of embarrassement we're not doing to delve too deeply into what drove Mike into oncoming traffic ... oh why bother with the pretense: Meka said she was going to start running and "when she told me about it MALE EGO kicked in and I was like 'I CAN'T HAVE MY WIFE OUT THERE RUNNING AND ME SITTING ON THE COUCH WITH A TUB OF ICE CREAM.'"

Personally, I'd examine that flawed imperative.

Nicole will always be able to leave us in a swirl of her dust but peepsNet knows that when you run for the first time -- no matter what else you do, no matter how fit you are -- you feel like you are going to die. Period.

So congratulations, "RM," for getting past that hurdle.

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