The marathon is almost over: I’m staggering to the finish line

The marathon is almost over: I’m staggering to the finish line

November 1966 Grade 10 Oakridge Secondary School London Ontario

The boys’ phys ed teacher, fondly known as Madman, sent us off to run cross country,

Through the desiccated bogs and wasteland surrounding our school.

We wore little white shorts and tee shirts, exuding decaying gym locker stench.

The run was a couple of miles long,

But many of the more intrepid dudes cheated, took a short cut,

And stopped to hang out, banter, and smoke in the barrens, amidst the yellowing shrubs.

For the last half a mile or so, the exhaustion was searing.

My classmate Ted McTavish and I staggered forward together,

Arms draped over each others’ shoulders,

To stave off collapse,

Until we lurched across the finish line, back at the school,

Where Madman, comfortably ensconced in a cushioned chair, clicked his stop watch.

Today my life has become a marathon run and I’m staggering to the finish line,

Alone, all alone.

Robert McBryde Author: IndieReader approved, adolescence, hippies, pop music, 1960s, 1970s, blogging, social media, CBC radio, literary non-fiction, tales, short stories, vignettes, immigrant experience, sports, Quebec anglos, living in France, childhood and animal stories, creative memoirs, satire, autobiography, family relations, fathers, raising children, aging, facing death, fear of death, travel, social commentary, love and marriage, translation: English-French; French-English

Publisher’s Note: Funny, manic, and wistful… self-deprecating creative nonfiction…The author, Robert McBryde, a professional translator, has been compared to David Sedaris for the sometimes-snarky autobiographical satire characterizing his literary sketches. Many of the stories in his new book, titled My Time with You Has Been Short but Very Funny, have been featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio network.

Author’s Note:

I’ve written a new book of creative non-fiction titled My Time with You Has Been Short but Very Funny, recently published and now on the market. The book is based on stories that I told over the years as a writer/ broadcaster and host on CBC radio based in Quebec City, Canada.

The book is available via my website. The purchase links are at the bottom of the home page.

https://robertmcbrydeauthor.com/

Normally I will post at least two blogs per week. Stay tuned…especially Wednesdays and Fridays.

If you purchase a book via the platform of your choice, please leave a review.

Here is an excerpt from my IndieReader review:

“[This] memoir is… an enjoyable and touching read. Radio listeners in Quebec are already familiar with the wit and wisdom of Robert McBryde. The non-fiction collection, MY TIME WITH YOU HAS BEEN SHORT BUT VERY FUNNY, gives the rest of the world access to the author’s inimitable style.”

https://indiereader.com/book_review/my-time-with-you-has-been-short-but-very-funny/

“Please note that [this] book received a rating of 4 stars or above, making it “IndieReader Approved”, a designation we created to make it easier for readers and booksellers to identify quality indie titles. Post the sticker proudly, knowing that your title was judged by top industry professionals—not as merely a great indie book—but as great book, period.”