Both Directions

I came upon this fork in the road and went the 'wrong' way.

This wasn't the first time that I saw this sign or even been on this road. I have taken it before, whether it be by car or foot. Hence, the reason I took the photo.

Because this was a place that something happened, and then happened again.

What happened?

My dad and I were watching a polo match right down the road.. a first for the both of us! It was some great father-son time and the day seemed perfect. It was perfect.

Then there was a loud 'BOOM!' Followed by sparks.

It was a weird sighting past the trees that were surrounding the field that the polo match was being played on. Game action stopped. My dad called it right away. Someone hit a power line.

A couple spectators ran over, and then within a minute, they came back asking for help. Yelling for help.

Now we all start to go towards the scene and it is easy to quickly spot that a car hit the distribution line, and then just as quick, you can see a father holding his daughter.

Thank God, both were 'ok'. No need to bring suspense to this part of the story. Was the father hysterical, yes.. and the daughter seemed to be okay. The accident happened right before this sign and who knows what led up to it. We stayed a little bit longer -- to this day, I hope all is well with them.

Now when the photograph was taken - this was another moment for me. This marked a time when it was "Global Running Day', and the date was June 2nd, 2021.

I love running.

About 7 months prior to this, on November 1st, 2020, I ran the New York City marathon on my own since it was canceled due to the pandemic. I finished, and I hurt myself.

Over half a year later, I was still searching for answers as the ones that I was getting would help me improve but there was still pain, and I still wasn't running.

On this day, I decided to move my feet as best as I could to do the running motion. I was hurt.

This is on a loop close by to my parents house and I came to this sign.. where I was so familiar with it, but wasn't completely sure if I was to go left or right.

I decided to go left.

This took me on another journey. The long way. I was starting to see places, houses, and roads unfamiliar to me. I was even able to meet a new family whom had ties to my alma mater high school. I still had to get back home though. And if I was able to run, it wouldn't be too big of an issue to turn back around, but I knew that this walk around the loop just got a lot longer.

I decided, why not? Let's start to move my feet and run back.

I did, and I made it back home, and it was a powerful moment for me. Maybe not the most climatic, but it gave me a taste of going further. And now, on my journey in getting back to running, whenever I do this loop, I am reminded that whichever direction I decide to go, it is up to me to make the best of it.

This particular sign is in Andover, New Jersey, and it brings Shades of Death Rd and Long Bridge Rd together.

Here it is to that fork in the road, and more importantly, the chance.