You don’t want to run. It’s been a depressing week and you just want to disappear. But it’s your day off and you’re scared to turn on the TV or look at the news, so you drag out the marx brothers and head out.

You go to the track, thinking it will be safe refuge. But there’s a guy getting out of the car at the same time as you and he’s bringing starting blocks. Nothing more annoying than a guy with starting blocks on the track. So you bail and go to Chaparral Park. Because. Ducks.

You start out on the usual mile course, moping along, only to discover you’re in the middle of a moving circus. There’s some sort of walk about to happen. There’s a drum line, the Phoenix Suns gorilla, a million people and a lot of love. Many families and religions and ages, all united by a shared joy. And a bouncy house. Never underestimate the power of a good bouncy house.

Normally you’d be annoyed. The sidewalk becomes instantly clogged with baby strollers and elderly people in walkers and tricycles and wagons and lots and lots and lots of people in blue shirts. But they’re all so stinkin’ happy. And you find, accidentally, that you’re becoming happy too.

You remember that people are basically good. They’re fair, they’re loving, they take care of each other, they care. We’re all in the same life boat. Row or sink.

You stroll and trot and stop to listen to the brass section play “Tom’s Diner” (Suzanne Vega will never die) and marvel that you almost missed this. You pose with the gorilla. You high five a kid. You cheer a pogo guy jumping over another pogo guy. You share the warmth of a couple holding hands while walking, and a young woman alone with her thoughts on a bench. You embrace life and love and the world. Never let the bad guys win.

You remember for the millionth time why you need to go out every day. Because you never know what you’ll find.

You go home and avoid the news for the rest of the day.

Life is funny …