Except for my years at college, and 18 months right after I got married, I’ve lived in Haddon Twp. my entire life. As running can be somewhat tedious (even with an ipod), I enjoy running the streets of my hometown & remembering different events that took place there & people I know.
That’s what happened on a chilly Saturday morning this weekend when I found myself on Strawbridge Ave. I wanted to run about five miles Saturday. As I was running down Haddon Ave., I made the wise decision to turn before I got to Mc Millian’s Bakery. One wiff of the bakery & the run would have ended right there in lieu of coffee & several cream doughnuts. While running down Stawbridge Ave., I passed my friend Jon Martini’s house. To say Jon & I go way back is an understatement. Jon’s folks & my folks both bought houses catty-corner from each other in winter of ’65, and we’ve been friends ever since. As I ran along & past Jon’s house, I remember all the trouble & fun we’ve had over the past four decades together: Reeking havoc on Christmas decorations throughout the Bluebird section, hockey games where the other team was basically Leon Spinks to our Mike Tyson, Jon coming up to York College for a visit & running from cops, the time Jon stopped me from trying to beat the living hell out of a Sea Isle cop (always smart), a very special Easter Saturday watching overtime hockey, Jon’s son Luke’s first football game, sleeping on somebody’s patio in Ocean City, Md. the list goes on & on. It’s no wonder that my family & I proudly refer to Jon as my Life-Partner. As the chilly miles continued, I thought less of my aching knee, and more about all the fun Jon & I had over the years. Before I knew it, I was back home with a smile on my face. All runs should be this good.
Stay gold Pony Boy.
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