Page 30 - LIfesOuttakes1

The Nose Warmer l It’s track season - the season when lots of young people are running up and down the street with a look on their face that makes a person think they must be passing a kidney stone. Perhaps it isn’t that bad, but I have yet to see any of them smiling. I remember back to my high school track days. It was springtime, when most young people’s thoughts, at least those who are single, turn to something other than track. Our coach had a hard time getting enough runners to field any sort of a team. He promised a varsity letter to anyone who came out for track, competed, and finished the season. Thus, our ranks were filled with those who only had a vague idea what a track looked like. One such participant was Sam. Sam was the chess club president and part of the chemistry club, but he was determined to earn a varsity letter that he could, one day, brag about to his children. The day of the first meet arrived, and we were given the standard issue: a pair of nylon running shorts, a nylon tank top shirt, and, of course, a supporter. We had to supply our own running shoes. We went to our assigned lockers to dress. Sam held up the supporter. “Hey, guys, what’s this?” We couldn’t believe he hadn’t used one in all those years we had P.E., starting clear back in seventh grade. But, apparently, he hadn’t, not even for the recent track practices. Jack was just about to explain to him that it was the underclothes for guys participating in sports, when Lenny, the team comedian, put his hand on Jack’s shoulder and interceded. “That,” Lenny explained to Sam, “is a nose warmer.” 25