Full Circle

Remember this?

Today I took advantage of a lull in the rain and went for a run.  I don't know if it was the cool weather, the new mix I had blasting on my iPod, or my currently fuming frustration with my semesterly Peace Corps report, but I was really in it.  I charged up the hills I usually struggle with, dodging puddles and chuchos all the way.  As I approached the large boulder that marks my halfway-point, I got a sudden jolt of energy and bounded up to my rock, so happy to be alive and free, running in the Guatemalan campo.  Little did I know then, but a nearby family had tied up one of their pigs to the back of my rock.  So along I came, reaching my rock at full speed, grabbing on and swinging around to the side of the boulder where I usually stretch.

And the pig?  I scared the living daylights out of this poor animal.  Here came my big gringa self, bounding without warning right into his little off-road territory.  I'm not sure if pigs can normally jump, but this pig leapt back in fright, and immediately sprinted away from me, seemingly forgetting his tethered condition.  As Pig's rope-leash caught he ricocheted back towards me, squealing horribly all the way.  Meanwhile I just stood there, frozen is disbelief, panting from my uphill sprint, watching this poor poor pig burrow his little hooves into the muddy ground in his futile attempt at escape.  As I clicked my iPod off I realized that two children across the road had seen the whole thing, and were delighted with the situation.  I immediately lost it, and doubled over laughing, as the pig's energy quickly depleted along with his unavailing struggle.  I crossed the road to give Pig some space, regained my composure, and started my return run, highly amused with myself.

Fourteen months later, and it's me scaring the crap out of the Guatemalan pig.   If that's not karma, I don't know what is.