Back when I used to run as my only from of exercise, my dad gifted me a reflective vest for early morning and nighttime jogs because, you know, safety first!
I never wore it. (Sorry, Dad.)
Fast forward 15 years, and here I am … Wearing that damn reflective vest because now I’m old and afraid of getting hit by a car.
Where I live, there are no sidewalks. Just long, windy roads and lots of hills. Every morning on my walk/jog, drivers speed by me, much closer than feels safe.
Wearing the reflective vest gives me a(n exaggerated) sense of security. Flashing my middle finger gives me a(n exaggerated) sense of satisfaction. Yelling profanities even moreso.
I realize some expensive athletic company probably makes a way cooler version now, but I’m too frugal to care that I look like part of a construction crew in my late aughts vest.
So this is me now when I’m out on my morning walk/run: EarPods in on low, sporting an outdated reflective vest and a pair of bright yellow sneakers. The raised middle finger is just an added accessory.
Stay safe out there, my fellow runners/joggers/walkers.
—LJDT
