Monday, June 13, 2011

DID DEMENTORS COME TO CHICAGO?

Well, it's Monday again. I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend. I am sure many of you were busy enjoying the hopefully warm weather and spending special times with family and friends.

An icy mist and wind chilled Chicago this weekend. But as you know I am determined to keep up with my daily workouts both physically and mentally. For all you Harry Potter fans out there you will appreciate this story ...

As I hugged the lakefront in the late morning hours little light reflected in the iron-gray lake. Frosty winds chilled me to the bone. I yanked up the hood of my sweatshirt over my head to shield myself from the the icy droplets trickling from the sky.

A silver mist inched it's way to shore and the world famous Chicago skyline disappeared from view, swallowed up in a veil of a mysterious shadow. Have Dementors traveled across the Atlantic and settled in the midwest? Has Lord Voldemorte resurfaced in the United States?

It sure looked that way to me. The winds kicked up another notch and I felt the happiness drain from my soul. Where was Harry? I needed a patronus big time. As I met the faces of others, goofy grins plastered their faces. How could that be? Have them been possessed?

At North Avenue volley ball beach I u-turned and picked up my step. The fringe on my forehead dripped icicles. Is this really June? My eyes darted east and to my surprise the shoreline faded away. Have I been transported to an alternate universe?


I shook my head and focused my eyes on he trail leading north. Visibility of only five feet or so revealed itself to me with each step I took. "Don't loose sight," I kept mumbling to myself.

What seemed to be an eternity ended in the faint outline of a bridge. The Brocklehurst bridge from HP6 flashed through my mind. I scoped the murky sky for streaks of black.... Will death eaters blow up the bridge as I'm crossing it?

I jumped at the sound of the crashing water as a ghostlike boat coasted past me. Whipping my neck in every direction I looked for any sign of the mist clearing ...


Bright emerald popped into sight as I managed to enter into the park. I escaped the Dementor's kiss. I would be happy again.


I hope you all enjoyed my insane thoughts during my power walk on a misty day in Chicago.

What runs through your mind when you are exercising and you mind is free to explore? I'd love to know.


18 comments:

Linda Gray said...

Congrats on escaping the Dementors' kiss!! You live to write another day! I remember that phenomenon over the lake in Chicago, Michael. Creepy. And the water turns that iron-gray dead color. yeesh.

Summer Ross said...

My mind usually concentrates on my moves when I am working out. Great descriptions Michael!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Hey Mike, since you are kind of a fitness expert do you think you could share some of your nutrition expertise with me so that I too can be successful at losing weight? Specifically, what kinds of meals do you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner compared to maybe a workout routine? Do you eat a lot of protein? Do you avoid Mayonnaise or is it okay to put the mayo with the olive oil mixed in with it as opposed to the other stuff? Why does everyone eat egg whites because I like the way the yolk tastes so am I being unhealthy by eating the yolk? What do you think of artificial sweeteners as opposed to sugar? etc.

N. R. Williams said...

Hmm...I think I've run into those Dementers too, on occasion. I'm looking for my wand. I know I left it around here somewhere. I am horribly occupied right now and can't remember anything at present. So my mind is running in circles. LOL
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

Unknown said...

Yes I must admit, your little episode came from all the flash flooding and extreme weather we have experienced here on the other side of the Atlantic. So sorry dear brother, didn't mean to scare you. I really had no idea that Dementor would travel so far.

Unknown said...

Your imagination took over! That's great. I know that when I exercise or go for a walk, my imagination starts as well. I don't see Dementors but I can create a good mystery scene.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I'll take your foggy cold over our heat any day!

Roland D. Yeomans said...

I could use a bit of Dementor-induced coldness here in my apartment! LOL. Have a great week, Roland

Heather said...

LOL! I love your imagination! Now that is how you make a morning power walk interesting! I'm so sorry to hear the weather has turned bad again though. The weather has just been crazy everywhere lately!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Glad yo escaped! And my brain is usually empty. Don't know if that's good or bad.

Golden Eagle said...

Great story. :)

I usually wander through a bunch of random subjects when I'm exercising--I often replay scenes in my head, whether they're a fictional and for a story, or ones that really happened.

Shari said...

Dementors? Eek!

I try to think about my stories when I work out, but my thoughts tend to get very random.

Laura said...

Ohhh lovely thoughts there, sounds like you were treading that fine path between here and somewhere other! I used to do this when I ran down the steep woodland path from my schoolbus to my home - especially when the wind was high
Lxx

Margo Benson said...

When I exercise is the one time I dodn't have my notebook and pen with me!

Right now we have a Devon Dementor Deluge AKA Summer in England :-)

Danette said...

Great little story Michael. Enjoyed it! Cheers to you for keeping on with your exercise!

dolorah said...

Dang . . I sent you the e-mail before I read this. We are on a psychic line Dude. Oh please, expand on this story for the Wake Up Monster event.

Honestly, I didn't read this before sending my prompt request. Its fate that you should carry on this post . .

.......dhole

Unknown said...

Glad you escaped the Dementor's kiss! When I'm exercising... my brain buzzes with ideas for the latest WIP I'm working on, or it runs through the list of the things I still have to do (a list that never ends). My workout then usually gets cut short because I can't stop thinking about all the things I still need to do!

Nicki Elson said...

Hahaha...you've finally figured it the mystery of the fog. Glad you escaped that kiss. I hope you fared as well today as I see the nasty Demetors were thick in the city today (more on how I know this in my comment to today's post).