Run, Craig, Run. . .

The ING MIAMI Marathon was run this morning. 21,000 elite and "wannabe" runners started out in downtown Miami at 6:30am on a perfect running day with the temperature in the low 50's and the sun shining overhead.

21 miles later, I was out on Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove, marveling at the elite class runners who glided by early on and anxiously watching my wristwatch to determine when I would get a glimpse of my sister's oldest grandson and my grandnephew, Craig, coming down the road. He was due somewhere between 9 and 9:30 according to the e-mail he sent me yesterday. I had my cellphone camera ready, my freshly painted "Go Craig!" sign propped up against my leg.

It was deja vu all over again as I flashed on a long ago New York Marathon. I am standing on the sidewalk at 2nd Avenue and 59th Street, 17 miles into the race, waiting for Craig's dad, my favorite nephew Bobby, to come running off the 59th Street Bridge on his way to the finish line at Central Park. Nine of our friends, including my ex, were also running that day. I was serving as their cheering section. For my non-runner readers, a marathon is 26.3 very, very, long miles.

Don't want to upset you, Bobby, but your son looked a helluva lot better at 21 miles this morning than you looked that day at 17. But you both finished, and that's what really counts about running a marathon. I know. I used to be a runner, myself, and finished a half marathon, 13.1 miles, so I have the greatest respect for those out there who are still running some five hours after they started out.

Once I got back home this morning, I couldn't wait to post the photo I took of Craig on my Facebook page. (See photo above. It's a little dark because the sun was behind him.) A few minutes later, a second picture popped up on the page. This one from Craig's wife, Ana. It was a picture he had taken of me, on the run, with his cell phone, as I was taking his. Isn't technology awesome?????

I'm a walker these days, no longer a runner. When I called Bobby to give him an update on his son, he reminded me that the first race we ran in together was a 10k on Thanksgiving weekend, called the North Miami Turkey Trot. That was a mere 40 years ago, but I remember it well.

Congrats, Craig. Your great-aunt is really proud of you. You go, boy.

Oh how I wish I had my camera with me this morning. Here's the picture I would have taken.

Driving home through Coconut Grove, as I waited for the traffic light to change, I found myself staring at a sight from days gone by. . a mounted policeman. Except this officer of the law, astride his elegant, coal black horse, wasn't leading a parade or even directing traffic. He was trotting down the street busily talking on his cell phone.

The juxtaposition of the classic horse and modern technology struck me as a powerful metaphor for the crazy world we live in.

What made me smile was the fact that if the light hadn't changed, I probably would have whipped out my own cell phone and taken a picture of the policeman talking on his. Then I would have forwarded the photo with a few clicks to several friends. Maybe even posted it on YouTube. Geez, if I know how to do something like that at my age, can you imagine what the kids are capable of these days?

I am constantly amazed at the amount of electronics that have entered my life. Just this afternoon I found myself explaining to the significant other how to set up his expenses on Excel. He loved the idea you can add the columns with one click, especially since he's been doing his own spread sheets by hand for umpteen years. I am a notably poor adder, so having the computer do it for me is a real plus.

The Today Show recently did a segment on a family that went without all electronics in their home for six months (They could use them at school and at work.) I trust they were paid well for the experiment, because a half year without tv, computer, or cellphone. . that also precludes Netflix and the LA Times crossword-puzzle-on-line, I presume. . .doesn't sound like much fun to me.

I have to go now. My cell phone just beeped to tell me that one of the four strangers I am simultaneously playing Scrabble with, has completed their move. This guy has an interesting vocabulary. The last round he posted the word "feces". I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

# # #

I have a word for you. . .

The "significant other" and I were watching the debacle known as the Sun Bowl when he noted that I was spending more time staring at my cell phone than watching Notre Dame decimate our University of Miami Hurricanes.

"What are you staring at?" he asked, a bit petulantly. "I'm playing Scrabble," I had to admit. "That sound you just heard was my cell telling me one of the unknown people I am play against just added a word."

I blame this new addiction on my friend Merele who introduced me to playing the word game on my cell. Unfortunately, I can't (so far) play with her, because she has a sophisticated iPhone and I am playing on a lowly Sprint Hero. Her version of the game is not one of the apps on my phone, so I play something called WordFeud with three or four strangers at a time.

Currently, I am playing against Townee, Alanda and Angelswhisper. Townee is killing me at 324 to 265, and I am destroying Angelswhisper with my latest entry of the word YONDER which conveniently covered triple letter and double word spaces and gave me 45points! (See photo above.) Wow! What a way to start the New Year. (Alanda takes ages to respond so I've just about given up on her/him.)

I always wondered what kids and young adults were staring at when you would see them peering at thir cell phones. I figured they were texting or tweeting. I didn't realize a lot of them were playing games. I'm not sure how many octogenarians are downloading apps to their cell phones, but I have to admit I also play Solitaire on a regular basis and just this morning discovered an app for Blackjack. There's no question. I'm hooked.

Anyone out there with WordFeud on their cells, I'd love to play with you. Words are my business and I warn you, I'm a tough opponent and I'm here to play. Anyone?????