Best time of the day

My Dad, Robert Loyle Borton (July 4, 1907 - January 7, 1993 ... so this Independence Day would have been a MOMENTOUS time in his life!) was born and raised on a farm, and used to early rising for chores. He used to tell us frequently that "morning is the best time of the day." Evidently I internalized this early. In high school, when my mother was seriously injured in a car accident, I rose early for quite some time to do housework. At boarding school (Interlochen Arts Academy, 1973-75), college (St. Olaf, 1975-79) and graduate school (University of Michigan, 1981-82 and Michigan State University, 1985-87) this pattern continued ... as it did on into my teaching career at Olivet College, where I used to rise regularly at 4 AM in order to prepare lectures. But my accident has pushed it to a whole new level ... I have been unable to sleep soundly since that 1993 event, and am usually up now between, say, 1:30 and 3 AM (give or take a little on both ends), and then up for the day by 5. It's a bit out of the ordinary ... but it IS, I must say, a highly peaceful and productive time!

More running

After not running from my accident in 1993 until early 2006, and then being unable to run once again due to foot pain in late December 2006, all of January through March, and most of April, I have been able to settle back into a routine of doing 4 miles a day (at roughly a 12 minute pace), and it's getting more comfortable day by day. This is an achievement about which I feel pretty good. But I hope I am not done yet. Several years ago, a good friend recommended the books of Clive Cussler to me, and I've come to enjoy them greatly. One main character is Admiral James Sandecker, a feisty septuagenarian who keeps fit by running 10K (6.2 miles) per day. I feel that if he can do it at his age, then I should be able to, also, so I've made that my goal. (Never mind that in the books, it's fiction.) I've jokingly told my daughter that I'll probably only run until I'm 90, and then cut back to walking. But how joking IS this?

Gas prices

It seems quite astonishing nowadays, but when I began driving (on a permit in 1972, and then with my license beginning March 17, 1973), gas price wars had its cost at around 30 cents a gallon. When I tell my kids this, I think they can hardly believe me ... and I don't blame them, given the way prices have soared in recent years.

The world of opera, part II

I mentioned in a recent post how I was affiliated last week with Arbor Opera Theater's production of Verdi's "La Traviata." Now, even though the final performance was on Sunday, I continue to have the music running through my head (particularly passages from the memorable instrumental prelude, and some of the big ensemble finale numbers). I suppose this is understandable, after hearing it on 6 consecutive days (rehearsals Tuesday and Wednesday, and performances Thursday through Sunday). But this is certainly a nice "problem" to have, as it is absolutely glorious music.

Opus Borton

When I began this blog back in March, the friend who suggested it (Doug Tidd) said, "You should name it something cool like 'Opus Borton.' " (Several concerts of my music have been held in the past, and that is the title we have used, 'Opus' being Latin for 'work'). And so I took his suggestion.

The world of opera

This week our local opera company, Arbor Opera Theater, has engaged me to project supertitles for their production of Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata." (Supertitles are the translations, projected on the space above the stage.) I also did it for them last June, with Giacomo Puccini's "La Boheme," but that was a different proposition, as I knew the show. This one is unfamiliar ground to me ... though it's a very standard piece of the opera repertoire, my knowledge of opera is pitifully weak. Anyway, though, it's fun, and a nice way of using my musical background.

Roller coasters

A few years ago, a good friend dubbed me "Iron-Guts Borton" due to my delight in repeatedly riding demanding roller coasters. We are fortunate to live fairly near to the Ohio amusement park Cedar Point, which is known as "America's Roller Coast," due to its having the most spectacular collection of coasters anywhere. I have been going there since the mid-sixties, but may not get there in 2007 ... a pity! But my son is a great roller coaster fan, and he will be going with my wife Michelle as a chaperone on June 14, when she makes her annual pilgrimage there, taking students from her school. (This is ironic, because she does not like coasters ... at all!)

Running the 5K

Here is a picture of me (5450) running the 5K on June 3 mentioned a few posts back. Ah, the wonders of the digital world!

June 6

I realized this morning that it was 32 years ago this very day, on June 6, 1975, that I graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy. It seems in many ways as if my life up until my accident was an unbroken succession of accomplishments; since then, I've had to become accustomed to quite a different set of circumstances! I was particularly proud of graduating as Valedictorian from such an esteemed institution as Interlochen. I can recall standing on the large stage of Kresge Auditorium, giving my Valedictory address, and having no idea where out in that large mass of humanity my family was sitting. But then I heard my Dad clear his throat -- an unmistakable sound to me -- and I smiled and knew where they were.

Running just to catch myself

I was glad to run a 5K this morning, associated with the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run. I used to run before my accident, but then did not for 13 years, until resuming in 2006. I did marathons in 1984 and 1991, finishing in about 3:32:45 each time. I ran two 5K races last summer, finishing in about 36 and 35 minutes. Today, I finished just shy of 37 minutes, but my disappointment in that time was mitigated by the large number of runners, that prevented me from even beginning a slow jog until a good minute after the gun. I had hoped to run the 10K this year, but could not run from December 18 - April 28 due to foot pain, and the long layoff cost me. Hoping to get a good night’s sleep last night, I turned in a bit past 10:00 … but, even though I slept soundly at first, plagued by my usual insomnia, I was awake from 1:30 on (though I forced myself to stay in bed the vast majority of the time until 6:00 AM). So, even though I was far from at full strength, I was glad to be able to do it.
After Michelle dropped me off, as I waited for the race to begin, I mused on the nature of disability. She and I playfully refer to me as 'Blindo' due to my inability to see even what should be obvious; and, of course, being without my glasses merely exacerbated that. And for the last few days, my hearing has been plugged, too, so that she pleaded with me, "Oh, don't go deaf! That wouldn't be a pretty picture." Of course, my muteness left me in the position, as I told her later, of "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."