Unmixed message

Every morning at 7 I run with my dogs at the University of Kentucky arboretum. As I go around the two-mile path, I pass a number of other joggers and walkers. Some are wearing athletic clothes; others wear a hijab or a niqab. A man with a long beard and a skullcap walks while reading from a sheet of what I guess are religious verses. A group of women are speaking what I think is Chinese. Some have headphones on.

There is an older man wearing a “Make America Great Again” sweatshirt. His truck in the parking lot is covered with N.A. stickers. An African-American man walks a little white fluffy dog. One morning I did something I’ve never done before: I said “good morning” to each and every one of them.

Do you know what happened? Each and every one of them said “good morning” back. Most smiled. Some waved. I think I’ll try this again. My dogs, mixed-race hounds named Franklin and Eleanor, love running in the arboretum.

This story was originally published November 19, 2016 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Unmixed message."