Now the rides will begin a half-hour earlier each day. That started today, but surprisingly I did see some familiar faces on the highway again.
Hodgepodge of 4 songs in my head today: "Wheels," "Decibel," and "She Likes Rock & Roll" off AC/DC's Black Ice. The fourth song is "That's the Way of the World" by Earth Wind & Fire. No idea why that last one popped in there but it's a good song.
Along the highway there were a few more bikers and joggers today -- that could be attributed to the half-hour time difference. But I notice the collective posture of the joggers and there are some women who look...off. I suppose it's all about how you feel, but why do some people -- oftentimes it's women -- run while present limp wrists? One today looked like Mr. Burns doggie-paddling upright on solid ground. Make a fist or flatten your palms! Move your arms a little and you'll propel yourself a bit further.
Am nearing the mid-point of Beneath the Wheel and it's coming along nicely. There are certainly similarities in theme/premise when held beside Siddhartha -- both focus on a boy who feels destined for greater things and is self-exiled/outcast due to the (sometimes self-imposed) pressures of life. What I like about Hesse's writing is that the characters are universal, especially the supporting ones; the distant father, the less mature school "friends," -- and in this case the religious leader is more of an instructor than an adviser. However, I noticed on pg 17 there was a narration change from 3rd person to a more subjective view where the narrator seems to be addressing Hans specifically. He could be meant to be speaking for him, but the words "he thought to himself" are absent. One wonders if that is intentional or if it was lost in the translation.
Hans is also an identifiable character as an adolescent because everyone's counting on him to succeed and go places so they can all take credit for their influence. Forget the fact that he's a boy -- make him a Martian -- and anyone I know can identify with this sort of internal/external struggle at practically any point in their lives. It is a bit different when you're younger, though, because it's tougher to ascertain who really wants good things for you and who just wants to live vicariously through you. They made the poor kid study during his summer vacation. You can also pick up on some of Hesse's sarcasm when he describes why the education system has to dull the excitement of young children.
My dream last night was of meeting an old friend in a train station while I sporadically bled all over the library copy of A Void. Brad Pitt ended up at the same diner as we did and for some reason he recognized me from something recent, it could've been the Yankee game I attended on Friday, but I think he referred to it as the Met game.
My legs are still a little charliehorsed but it's too nice outside so I'm running today during lunch. Today my t-shirt is a replica of Al Bundy's Polk High uniform so let's see if anyone along the Seaport is cool. Forgot my turkey sandwich so I'll wolf down most of my Detour bar with a banana and save the remainder of lunch for the train ride home. Today will be round-trip day #265. It certainly seems as though I'm on target to make it to 300 by year's end. If I end closer to 325 I'll be content.
Thank you for reading.
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