Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, I was about to step to the platform to address an energetic audience.  I was talking with a friend about the content of my presentation when the event coordinator interrupted our conversation.  He dismissed my friend with a demeaning comment and asked, “Are you going to wear “THAT” outfit  to the platform? His eyebrows were raised in obvious disgusted annoyance.  I was wearing new jeans, a shirt and a sport coat.  It was the jeans that incurred his wrath.

His condescending tone flipped a switch deep inside my soul.  My response was instantaneous, clever, profoundly logical, and……… totally inappropriate,  but my lips were already moving and I spit the words out with vengeance.

Okay, be forewarned! This is not for the delicate or faint of heart. Yesterday, I ran 8 miles.  That’s farther than I have ever run before. The sun was shining for the first time in over a week.  And it was warm!  A few days before I had biked 20 miles in 30 degree weather and almost froze to death.  My left ear broke off when I removed my helmet. But today temperatures were in the high fifties.  Two deer stood at no more than 10 yards and watched with big eyes and long lashes.  I could almost hear them whispering, “That guy only has one ear.”