"She's fine; come on ahead!" yelled Sophie's pet parent, waving a mittened hand. "Sophie! Stop! Enough!"
"I'm sorry," I said as I neared them. "I didn't want to...disturb her."
"Well, I'm sorry she's being such a loudmouth. Sophie, stop being such a loudmouth!"
We exchanged a few pleasantries, and I went on my way. I love that part of my Walk--meeting a new person in the neighborhood. That I also got to meet a new dog was a bonus. That she was a cute loudmouth, even better.
My Walk makes me deeply satisfied. I purposely don't vary my route much at all. I enjoy watching the small changes daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally. I like to see the evolution of my neighborhood and notice little things as I pace off my miles.
Today--aside from meeting Sophie and her pet parent--I was happy to see a wide sunny carpet of winter aconite brightening up someone's front lawn. On the street where nine impossibly large outdoor cats lounge on varying porches and front walks, only two were to be seen, yawning and grooming. Daffodil and narcissus fronds were poking several inches above the soil already! Behind a tent-like structure made of plastic sheeting, work was finally, actually being done on the dilapidated front porch of a run-down house. (Rick and I make fun of this project all the time; it has been ongoing for a year, done entirely by one guy who shows up about once a month. At one point, he inexplicably hung kitchen pots on the porch roof. We theorized that they were to hold nails or small tools. The whole thing is ridiculous.)
I was miffed to note how many homes still have Christmas decorations up, but it was a small thorn in my side. I listened to some raucous birds and looked up to find them. It was two red-bellied woodpeckers flashing wings and pursuing each other. A little further down the block were several robins bobbing in a big corner yard, with a pair of bluejays watching above, screeching. Cardinals were also in the yard, a male and female, and I started allowing myself--just a little--to think about Spring.
On my way back home, my visit with Sophie cost me. Just as I turned down my street, it began to rain. I had it timed perfectly according to my weather app, but hadn't planned on loitering. I didn't care too much. As my husband's grandfather used to say, "It only soaks through to the skin." And I wasn't too far from home.
It feels good to Walk, to breathe fresh air, to feel my legs stretch out, to feel my feet push against the pavement, moving it away. It's relaxing and invigorating at the same time for me. It's therapeutic.
As a child I was overweight and often sick. I didn't play sports and I was not athletic. I might have tried, but I didn't want to risk humiliation. There were a few things I could do, and one of those was to take Walks. My father used to take us on long, long Walks he called Nature Walks (more about those in another post). I also had a paper route for a few years that I walked every single day (which helped end my weight problem). I walked to school in elementary school and high school, and, in good weather, home from junior high. When I think back, Walks have generally been a positive part of my life.
And yes, I do have some residual fear from having fallen twice. (Probably more than even Rick, Jared, or Sam has!) My first Walk by myself after my second fall was scary. I know I'm careful and that has to be enough.
So, in 2020 and beyond, Walk is one of my Words.
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I like to go for walks, but don't do it nearly as often as I used to. I'm glad you got to meet Sophie. You can never have too many friends when you're out on your daily constitutional.
ReplyDeleteAlly Bean--I'm thankful that this has been such a mild winter here. I've been able to walk far more often than I ever dreamed possible.
DeleteAnd yes, I like adding to my collection of friendly neighbors, especially of the canine variety.
Walking is a wonderful way for me to clear my head. I walked almost 2 miles at my husbands health club track today. Then I stretched out on a ball and it felt good on my fractured arse.
ReplyDeleteWe have a delightful walking path that is 21 miles around Geneva Lake. Once the mud dries up, we will be walking it again. Dogs are welcome on leash. I've never seen it unclean
kathy b--I agree! Walking really clears out the cerebral clutter. It's not that I think about stuff, it's more that I DON'T.
DeleteI'm glad that you were able to walk that long and stretch out with little or no pain. That means healing, as you well know. And before you know it, walking your lake path again.
Walking is great exercise that doesn’t carry many of the risks of running (especially as one gets older.) That said, we have both taken a tumble with serious consequences, so… nowadays I look down a lot more often wherever I happen to be walking. I don’t really walk in our neighborhood because we live in a condo and it’s on a street with a few small restaurants, but mostly banks, convenience stores, gas stations, and other apartment complexes. I would pretty much have to drive to a park to enjoy nature, so that’s a weekend thing… if I can.
ReplyDeleteMy classes this spring are all on the opposite side of campus from my office, so I get 30 minutes of round-trip walking on the days I teach. I wish I could say I have been enjoying it, but… holy cow… the campus is a virtual wind tunnel, and so far this semester I usually arrive to my first class with frozen fingers, frazzled hair, and, today, for the umpteenth time, sopping wet from the rain and stomping through puddles that were ankle deep. Looking forward to better weather as the semester progresses, because when it is at least sunny and not so cold, I enjoy the jaunt and watching the amazing diversity of students from foreign countries. As a foreign language teacher, I love hearing so many different languages spoken on my way to and from class and marvelling at the variety of garb—kind of like an outdoor international airport terminal. Also: On my way back to the office at midday, there are always at least a few student clubs with food stands set up to raise funds for who-knows-what--- great opportunity to support them and gives me something to exotic to lunch on. So… yay for walks!
Ortizzle--Why are universities always so windy and cold? Your description reminded me of walking around campus at Bowling Green State University, the flattest and windiest place on earth. Most of the first part of classes consisted of people unwrapping themselves from layers of protective clothing.
DeleteNow, however, there are shuttle buses all over; no one has to walk anyplace for more than a minute or two. Sigh.
I love your description of your walking area as an international airport terminal. Perfect! I did see someone sneaking a cigarette outdoors in pajamas and overcoat yesterday, but...not nearly the same thing. ;-)
Although not yet pleasant, your 30 minutes of walking is no doubt beneficial to your health. If you stay upright. LOL. Let's both make that a priority! XO
It's got to get a lot warmer before I start walking again. Unlike you, I hate walking. Love nature but hate walking on neighborhood streets.
ReplyDeleteSophie sniffing around a tree is serious business. Levi can take forever before he decides to add essences. It's the highlight of his walks.
Jean--In NEO, we've been in the upper 40's lately, which is chilly with the westerly/northwesterly breezes, but not too bad. PLUS, I have a heated coat, a gift from my husband a year ago Christmas. I highly recommend it. It makes even snow shovelling a nothing.
DeleteBut even that won't help if you have an antipathy toward walking. Perhaps that will change when you move to your new home and its lovely environs.
Sophie was really already involved, and that's why I stopped. Having a granddog, I know how serious it is--for everyone.
Reading that you are walking with envy only a still snowed in Canadian can feel. I am navigating on cleated snow boots with two walking poles. It is starting to melt, though. Soon, now. But ... robins, cardinals. A happy dog with a lawn... Oh well. Our jays have switched from saying 'jay,jay' to saying 'doink, doink'. And I heard a chickadee say 'hey sweetie'. Harbingers of better things to come.
ReplyDeleteMary--Don't get too terribly envious. This is March in NEO, what my father the chauvinist used to call Women's Weather (because it is always changing its mind). We are slated for 50s today, followed by snow tomorrow, then almost 60 on Sunday and Monday. Then a wintry mix on Thursday and Friday next. Last year, I drove in a blizzard in late April.
DeleteBut yes, I am beyond thrilled to be safely walking on NO SNOW here now. And look at you, out and about with boots and poles! I'm glad to hear it.
Oh, and don't you DARE fall again. Hear me?
ReplyDeleteMary--Oh, I hear you! And am bound and determined to stay upright!
DeleteDee--Oh, I agree! I had no idea she was around. I hope she is a resident and not just a visitor.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you - a WALK is one of the best things, and I agree for many of the same reasons. As someone who has also had serious falls, it's always sort of there in my mind, but if I keep moving, it's just all better.
ReplyDeleteSophie sounds like a cutie. Italian greyhounds are generally so sweet, at least in my experience.
Keep walking and telling us about it, please.
Bridget--Oh, thank you. I was a bit concerned that my post would be boring.
DeleteIt's terribly frightening to fall; I still am not sure how either of them happened, to be honest. I mean, I know how they MIGHT have happened, but I really don't know. And I agree--best to be aware, careful, and keep moving.
Lucky you--you have a sweet dog to take with you on some walks. (Although I know it becomes more of a case of Stops when you have him along since he's such an Attraction!)
I love to walk too. And I actually enjoy taking the same route (or trail) so that I can see how things have changed over time (or seasonally). Unlike my husband who never wants to walk the same path...annoying...
ReplyDeleteAnd, I have a fear of falling after my major plummet last year that ended with stitches in my knee. How can I be that clumsy? But uneven pavements, or rocks and tree roots can make everything a mess. I have to keep my head down and watch constantly!
Glad you were able to see some signs of Spring.
Vera--I know you are a devoted Walker. You like the canal path, don't you? Or perhaps I am thinking of someone else. But I know you like to walk a certain lovely trail.
DeleteI berated myself for my clumsiness as well after my last fall. I don't look at or use my phone, and I do try to watch my path. But accidents happen. I can't always look down, especially when seasons are changing and there are things to notice.
You will likely see Spring happen a bit sooner than I will. We seem to be a little ways behind you. Some people whose blogs I read along the NW coast already have daffodils!
Your walk sounds lovely! I always wish I liked to walk more than I actually do. I have a weekly walk date with my cousin at the mall, but yesterday (in response to a Lenten prompt) I wanted to walk outside. We have a serious dearth of good outdoor places to walk here! Seems crazy to be living in NC & not have a good nature trail nearby. So we went to a local park that has soccer fields and, blessedly, part of the path goes by a nice sized creek.
ReplyDeleteI was just telling someone the other day that I am finally over being paranoid that I'll fall on my $100k hip. I hope that doesn't mean I'll be careless, but knowing myself as I do, I will be careless. Stay tuned!
Bug--I just walk in the neighborhood; can you not do that where you are? I don't even go to the nearby nature trails like my brother (8 miles a day, every day!) does. I'm happy just to pace along in my own community and brave the uneven sidewalks. It seems funny to me to drive someplace just to walk around. Like going to a gym to use a Stairmaster when I have two sets of steps in my house!
DeleteHow old is that 100K hip now? I feel like it would be pretty well healed and could withstand a bit of a stumble, as long as it wasn't a horrible spill down a hillside or something. But I absolutely understand the trepidation. I am leery of my two capped teeth now and hate biting into anything remotely hard. Hell, for weeks afterward, I was afraid to brush them!
I can walk on my street, but it's not very long (and basically straight up). It dumps onto a rural road where there's no shoulder to speak of & people drive way too fast (me included). But I didn't really walk much in my Xenia neighborhood either & it had perfectly nice, mostly flat, sidewalks. In any case, what I most want from a walk is quiet & trees & pine needles underfoot. That's for my soul. For my health I guess if I can't have that I'll just use the treadmill.
DeleteMy hip is now 2 years and 7 months old. For the first year I didn't feel super steady, then I spent some time just worrying about my general klutziness, and then sometime in the last 6 months I stopped worrying at all.
Bug--I wouldn't walk where there was no sidewalk, either. Rural areas seem to attract speeders.
DeleteTreadmilling (or Dreadmilling, as my sister calls it) is such a depressing and lonesome activity. No real progress, no change in view. Bad for the knees. Mine was outlawed by my neurologist--all that jarring and pounding and monotony was a Migraine Invitation.
Hard to believe your hip surgery was over two years ago! I'm so glad you can finally have confidence in it.
I love my morning walks with Mulder. Having a dog is a great motivation to get out and walk, when otherwise one might just lay about until it is time to start work or whatever. He has a schedule in his head, and doesn’t let me get away with that. It is someone dangerous, though, as the hard fall I took a couple of years ago (not nearly as hard as yours, but it aggravated arthritis in my knee and hurt for months) was caused by him dashing after a stupid cat* and tripping me.
ReplyDelete*I do not dislike cats generally, but this one is a bit of an asshole. None of our neighbors like it.
I tend to stick to the same 3 or 4 walks myself, and for the same reason you mentioned. I like to see what has changed, watch the leaves appearing on the trees, flowers blooming, etc. Since I have a desk job and sit most of the day, it feels really good to get out and walk first, stretches my back and so on.
J@jj--We have a great deal of Asshole Cats in the neighborhood. One, a Russian Blue, is Marlowe's boyfriend. He often comes and lies on the porch or driveway or patio bench and acts like it is his yard. She gets very annoyed. So do I.
DeleteI greatly admire the dedicated dog owners in our neighborhood. They are out there in all kinds of weather making sure their pups are exercised. I imagine Mulder gets lots of compliments and delight from observers as you're out and about. He's awfully fluffy and handsome.
I am delighted that you feel well enough to resume walking.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn--Me too! I hope you've had some lovely time outdoors as well.
DeleteI think being outside and walking is so helpful to clear your head. I used to be a big walker, everyday if I could but then my headaches got so bad that walking made them worse. So now I wish I could walk more but still try to get outside just to breathe as much as I can. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteMeredith--I'm sorry that your migraines are preventing you from enjoying Walks, among other things. I feel so fortunate that my medication continues to work for me. I hope you soon find some answer for yours, too.
DeleteFresh air is a real restorative. We are being gifted with gorgeous weather today: sunny and 60 degrees. Unheard of! I plan to air out and be out! I hope you are well today and enjoy a great day.
I make sure to atleast walk for 30 minutes a day! It is so much helpful! :)
ReplyDeleteUnknown--I agree wholeheartedly!
DeleteI miss being able to walk and climb about to the extent I once did. Enjoyed ‘walking’ with you.
ReplyDeleteJoared--Sigh. I do, too! I am feeling my age a little, and I don't like it. I'm glad you enjoyed this post.
Delete