Le Coureur qui ne Pouvait Pas

[cjsmith]

A year or so ago I saw a sculpture that instantly spoke to my heart. I had nerve tumors in my feet, causing enough pain to stop me from running, but this problem was probably not yet correctly diagnosed by that time. I had just missed Bay to Breakers and was sad about that. I went to Silicon Valley Open Studios to see the photography of my friend Joe Decker, and by chance I also got to see the work of sculptor Fabienne Bismuth.

There was a sculpture of a woman trying to run while her foot was trapped in a chunk of granite.

I went back to that sculpture over and over. She was me! The athlete who was immobilized, the runner who couldn't! Sadly, she cost a bundle, and I didn't have a bundle. I'd been out of work for a year (by choice, but still expensive) and needed to be careful with money.

A year later I still can't run. My left foot's improving but not healed, the right isn't improving at all, and I don't know why. For some reason I was reminded of the sculpture I'd seen. With Joe's help in identifying the artist, I went to look for a picture of it.

I about cried when I saw Le Coureur qui ne Pouvait Pas again. It's the same foot. It's her right foot that's stuck, just like me. And she hasn't given up.

I don't know if the sculpture is still available or how much it costs, but I've sent mail to ask. I'm going to be very damned tempted.

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

The other thing that's great is that the runner in the sculpture hasn't given up. She may never give up. And for all I know, one day she'll move, whether that rock is still there or not.