The Art of Stalking

As you know, I ran the Bay to Breakers naked. After the race, I couldn’t wait to retrieve my picture as proof that I had done something so wacky. It just so happens that the pictures I pulled up were linked to some Black chick whose crinkled bib number looked like my number. I know I’m dark, but I ain’t black!

What a letdown. I was totally distraught. Now no one would believe that I actually ran the race in the buff.

Bless his soul, someone from the Bare to Breakers group that I ran with sent me two snapshots of myself naked. They were fuzzy, but at least I had evidence!

Last week, I received an email that demonstrates the power of the internet, the power of sleuthing, the power of stalking. Artie, for your reference, I mean ‘stalking’ in the nicest of connotations.

Here’s the email:

Miss. Catherin Gacad,

I’m terrible in English, I’m already intimidated by you’r English skills…

I have been browsing the photos at http://www.sportphoto.com/ for some interesting photos. OK, I was looking for the interesting photos of the ladies…. I came across you’r photo and lucky me, you were holding you’r bid # from a far but I could barely read it…. i wasn’t even sure it was correct….

Any way, now i know it’s correct! With the bid # I got you’r name and website and found some other photos you may be interested in here:

My question to you is this… Why would a highly educated, intelligent and church going women like you’r self want to run the race naked?? i think the female body is very beautiful and that is why I was looking for the photos in the first place but i wouldn’t expect someone like you’r self to run naked… Did you know you’r photos are on the web??? Did you expect that?? Will this be a detriment to you’r career??

There were just a few other female athletes that ran the bay to breakers completely naked…

OK, I’m a 50 year old single guy. I’ve never been married, hey I’ve never had a girl friend…. i guess i’m pretty lonely…. I’ve never been locked up or arrested….. i’m 50 years old… i grew up in Texas but now live in columbus, Ohio…..

I hope to hear from you… I’m some what depressed now.

Thank You, Artie

Artie, you sent me a treasure-trove of pictures I didn’t think existed. THANK YOU! By the way, aren’t I hot? I didn’t actively look for pictures of myself from the race day, but I truly appreciate the leg-work you’ve done in locating them for me. You’re the best!

In response to your questions, I ran the race naked because for the first time in a very long time, I was comfortable with my body. I guess it was just my way of proving it to myself. I didn’t do it for others. I seriously did it for myself, for my own personal reasons.

I know it must be hard to imagine a driven, successful person doing something like this. Society likes to place people in categories and those categories seem to determine what people can and cannot do. I’ve always been an over-achiever. I knew I would go to the best schools. I knew I would work for a great company. But I never let that ambition keep me from doing exactly what I really want to do. I hated my first job out of college. A true over-achiever would have lined up something else first. I just up and quit, and sold stocks from my portfolio to pay my rent. It was what I wanted to do. Quit. Same thing here. I’m not trying to live up to anyone’s expectations. Only my own.

A detriment to my career? Was Paris Hilton’s sex video a detriment to her career? This is my own personal business. I don’t run around the office naked!

Never been locked up or arrested? Artie, did anyone ever tell you…less is more.

Given my recent history, I’m on my way to being a 50 year old single girl. But Artie, it’s all good. Marriage is over-rated anyway, right? I would just concentrate on doing things you enjoy like spending time with family and friends. That’s what I do. And I’m truly happy.

Good luck, Artie. All the best to you. Thanks again for finding and sending me these pictures.