Some like it hot, some like it cold, some like it Santa Barbara

Right next to the Star Diner, three flights of maroon carpeted stairs take me to four hundred square feet.  First avenue drums at all hours outside my three windows and I’ve hung some wind chimes from the fire escape.  Even through the constant stream of taxi cabs and trucks, I can hear them calling me home from three blocks away. 

Three blocks away I do my laundry.  Six blocks away I work as a nurse.  The gym is across the street and I get groceries from the internet.  Concievably I could live out my life in these few acres of pillaring concrete.  Thank God I run.

Central Park is seven blocks away.  At 5am it takes me less than ten minutes to enter this 800 acre oasis.  Round and round I go through out the seasons and rarely do I miss a day.  I can breathe.  The worse the weather, the better I love my running loop.  Snow, rain, heat and humidity all befriend me to keep the masses away.  It is easy to fall in love with every corner of it.

Pregnant.  Running pregnant.  Running with baby.  Pregnant again.  Running pregnant pushing baby number one.  It is not the running that has got me cramped.  Four hundred square feet.  Did I mention the occupancy of two cats as well?

My husband’s work replaced us and renewed us to Santa Barbara.  Day one, minute one, I am in love.  Thank God I run.  Thank God I run in Santa Barbara.