Hit the RPI track again today.... hot and muggy, hard to keep going --- then  someone recognized me from yesterday, smiled and said "back again, huh?  good for you!" and I felt my energy level pick up; a few encouraging words, a simple smile even, can spark a person forward; heart-spark pass it on... 

Jogged the track at Rensselaer (aka "RPI" - world-class university here in Troy), sweet ankle-knee-hip relief from the hard pavement of city streets (thank you for leaving open to neighbors, Dr. Jackson) -- a summer camp group of kids doing warm-ups on the field, counting out a stretch in both English and Spanish -- two athletes zipping past me timing a sprint -- an elderly couple holding hands as they walk --  different ages, different goals -- round and round we circle --  back to where we started, again and again, each time changed -- lighter in weight,  lighter in worries,  perhaps brighter with a new idea, spark -- four times around is a mile.

Jogging up Oakwood Avenue spotting tossed soda cans, candy wrappers, beer bottles, junk food bags...and perhaps the saddest trash, discarded instant lottery tickets... "win up to $50,000!"... "Cash for Life!"..."KING'S RANSOM -- Win up to $3,000,000!!! -- 15 Chances to Win!   The tickets ranged in price from $1 to $10.  If a person put $1 a day in a cookie jar for a year there'd be enough for a course at a local community college... a much safer bet for the future. 

A blackberry bush on 16th Street linked me back to Camp Russell in Old Forge, my three sons picking berries for Tama's pancakes, little fingers stained purple all morning.

Saw today while running:  Red-circle brim of a sombrero on hot pavement, lost or tossed for a different hat?

Firefly ideas often spark on my morning runs.  I am posting them here on this new blog page for inspiration.  Maybe they will *spark* an idea for you, too.  :-)