A lazy morning on the couch, waiting for the Packers game to start. Cup of coffee, fireplace roaring (hey, it's almost 50 degrees), dogs sleeping on the floor. I don't particularly like the Patriots but I like that they're beating Buffalo, just because I still see them as the underdog. Obviously, I don't feel the same about the Bears beating the Browns. Or the Jets, for that matter.
Navy beat Army yesterday, which is awesome. The high school where I coach cross country won the state football championship last night. My fantasy team is done for the year, thank goodness. I drafted well but injuries killed me. As I mentioned before, we had an amazing cross country season but it's been over for two weeks.
All of this is me saying that I'm off the roller coaster for a while. Between the critical observations it takes to write a book, daily highs and lows of being a coach, and living a life defined by competition, my head space is a volatile environment. Always thinking, always observing, always reminding myself to put my phone down after 6 pm so I don't tweet something I'll need to delete in the morning. Not that I don't believe in my opinions but do they always have to be so dogmatic? Some guy wrote to me recently, asking if I cared to retract some comments from one of my Taking books. I didn't need to respond but couldn't help myself. I promise that I was kind and didn't drop an "F" bomb.
It's actually a relief to be writing books like The Long Run and its still-to-be-written sequel. The leap to a kinder, gentler social history from the increasingly revisionist view of the events shaping our globe over the last century (my personal favorite school of thought currently making the rounds: Hitler has somehow become a good guy and Churchill a villain) may just add years to my life. We live in very polemic times. I'd rather my divisive comments be focused on threshold training than the Monroe Doctrine. I certainly don't regret writing the Killing books and selling millions of copies — it's just that I never wanted to be part of the political debate. It did, however, feel good to jump in with a learned thought or two from time to time. I love debating history with people who don't know their history. Then again, these are the same people who send me death threats. You should read those emails. Talk about people who hold onto their anger.
Anyway, back to the roller coaster. It's the Christmas season. Hannukah. Festivus. A time for love and peace and above all, calm. The trick is going to be incorporating all this Kumbaya into the rest of the year. I don't think it can be done. So I'm enjoying this Sunday and the comforting feel of Sadie's soft fur resting atop my bare feet as I watch NFL Red Zone. She snores a little, which is kind of adorable. Wherever you are, I hope that you're finding your own calm space during this glorious holiday season.