”Sometimes nothin is a pretty cool hand”

The words of Paul Newman, as the character of Luke in one of my favorite all time movies, “Cool Hand Luke”. He’s using it in reference to getting the snot kicked out of him by George Kennedy’s character in a prison yard fight. Not for nothing, but Kennedy won a best supporting actor Oscar for that role. Among all of the bullshit work he did; including several “Naked Gun” movies, it’s good to remember that he was, and could be, a damn good actor….

….but I digress…

I’m not using it the term in reference to some fisticuffs I may have gotten involved in while incarcerated.
Nope. That’s not it.
I’ve never been incarcerated. And I suck at fighting. Don’t ask how I know this.

I’m referring to plans. Or a lack thereof.
I’m on vacation. Or on holiday, as they say over here in Northern Ireland. Instead of coming over for a week, like I’ve done before, I’m hanging for almost 2 weeks. Doing 2 running races instead of 1. But aside from that, I really didn’t plan a thing. It’s pretty much what everyone here and everyone at home before I left wanted to know. What are you gonna do? How are you going to fill the days? What are your plans? What are you going to see? Any tours?
My answers,in that order…

– whatever I feel like.

– by doing what I want.

– don’t have any.

– whatever I see.

– no tours. I already have that T-shirt.

So a week and one day into this trip what have I actually done?

– One of my two races, but that was planned and a given.
– I saw a local Pride-themed show. (It was Pride week here in Derry)
– been to pubs. Lots of pubs

– went to an outdoor concert. Lovely music, beer and was offered “ a tenner for your hat”. I gave it to her for nothing, btw. Sucker for a pretty face.
– several local informal runs/races. Half run, half social events.

– was called out at a coffee shop. As in “are

you Bob?” After 3 random questions. By a total stranger.

– Took a dip in the ocean at night during a full moon with friends. Supposedly a 3-5 minute experience. But we met someone we didn’t know. And couldn’t really see ( it was dark, people) Named Orla. So we talked to her. 3-5 minutes became 20 minutes. In freezing cold water. With Orla. But my friend brought hot chocolate for after, so that helped.
– was interviewed about the race ( there’s more to it, but for the sake of brevity..) by a local television station. That was today so I don’t know if it made the broadcast. TBD.

That’s not everything, but it’s a good list of the highlights. Now yes, part of this is because I’ve been here 3 times before and have friends here who are WAY nicer, friendlier and more hospitable to me than I deserve. But the reason I know them was because I went to another city, namely Barcelona, with the same lack of planning and ran into them in an Irish bar. In Spain. But that’s a different story.

So, as is often the question in these little missives, what’s my point?

I think it’s that if you leave time in your schedule and openness in your mind, you can run into some marvelous experiences. Is every day full of these fun, unplanned adventures. Of course not. Especially in new cities where I don’t know people. There can be slow days. But I’ve got my music and my books and there’s always a place to run or work out.
Is this type of thing for everyone? I’m sure it’s not . But during this week, Derry being the tourist town that it is, I’ve seen the groups of people getting on and off their buses and being lead, cattle-like,by their tour guides to the next church or historical monument or group meal.

Those aren’t bad things, but I’ll take what’s behind door number three instead, Monte.
good, bad, or indifferent.
Now I’ve gotta go.

Actually I don’t gotta go. It’s not like I gotta be anywhere till next Wednesday when my flight leaves for the States. Unless they don’t have the European flight snafu fixed, in which case I’ll stick around for the Belfast half marathon.
Yeah, sometimes nothing is a pretty cool hand .

Talk later,

Bob