After My Walk
Sunday, October 25, 2009
On Saturday, I was away all day. My friend picked me up at 7 a.m. to go to Sarnia for a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) rally. We picked up two other ladies. We were expecting to be there by registration (9:15) or at least starting
time (10). Before we finally arrived, we hoped we wouldn't miss lunch.
There are a few ways to get to Sarnia. Our driver had her own ideas. She thought she knew the way and didn't trust the GPS that Sue brought along or the suggestions that any of us made. It was 11 by the time we got there. We did not miss lunch. The trip home went much better. She was willing to trust Abby by now. (Abby is the name we gave the GPS).
It was suppertime when I got home. I had been sitting all day but I was tired. I did not feel like going for a walk. I could not convince myself to go even though missing a day would spoil my record of not missing any days in October.
I promised I would go for a long walk on Sunday.
This afternoon, after church, my husband left to go to a hockey game in the city. I changed my clothes and then made the mistake of sitting down in front of the computer just to check my e-mail. It is a beautiful, sunny day, perfect for a walk.
I started to play a word game I am addicted to. (You can guess where I am going.) Fortunately, at this juncture, my game shut down for a 10-minute weekly update. Someone is Up There making sure I keep my promise to myself. I take the shutdown as an indication that 'now' is the time to leave. And I did.
When I leave the house, there are several walks I can take. I prefer not having to cover the same area twice on the same day. I decided which walk I would do today. It is one I had not done yet this year.
I have been noticing the trees that are decked out right now in their magnificent glory. I thought about a poem our grade 7 teacher talked about:
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
- Joyce Kilmer
Any pictures I take do not capture how beautiful the trees really are but they bring back the memory of how I enjoyed seeing them.
My walk was in the country. I think that over the years I have fallen in love with every farmhouse in the area, at one time or another. Recently I have been passing a farm that is being torn down. I have not heard exactly what is happening but the farm happens to be next to a big lot that houses trailers and motor homes. Hubby and I have been speculating.
The property was always unkempt and messy but we enjoyed seeing the animals they used to have. When my children were growing up, they were friends with the kids who lived on the farm. They had a big old work horse that the kids could ride around the yard. We enjoyed watching the sheep. Classes from the nearby school often visited. It is sad to think those days are past. I am wondering if they are planning to tear down the big old brick farmhouse. I would love to wander through it as I have never been inside. But of course there are 'no trespassing' signs all around.
I find that I am almost in some kind of 'trance' when I am walking. My mind flits from one subject to another. Sometimes I wish I could write my thoughts while I am walking because I know they will be gone once I return home.
Sometimes I pray for whomever comes to mind. Once I am out there, I feel like to could walk 'forever'. Unfortunately, my legs disagree. At that point, I am unsure if walking further would strengthen them or cause problems.
Today I was gone for just under 2 hours. It was a wonderful day for a walk.
According to my pedometer, I walked 14,575 steps. I am happy and I believe I made up for missing Saturday.
time (10). Before we finally arrived, we hoped we wouldn't miss lunch.
There are a few ways to get to Sarnia. Our driver had her own ideas. She thought she knew the way and didn't trust the GPS that Sue brought along or the suggestions that any of us made. It was 11 by the time we got there. We did not miss lunch. The trip home went much better. She was willing to trust Abby by now. (Abby is the name we gave the GPS).
It was suppertime when I got home. I had been sitting all day but I was tired. I did not feel like going for a walk. I could not convince myself to go even though missing a day would spoil my record of not missing any days in October.
I promised I would go for a long walk on Sunday.
This afternoon, after church, my husband left to go to a hockey game in the city. I changed my clothes and then made the mistake of sitting down in front of the computer just to check my e-mail. It is a beautiful, sunny day, perfect for a walk.
I started to play a word game I am addicted to. (You can guess where I am going.) Fortunately, at this juncture, my game shut down for a 10-minute weekly update. Someone is Up There making sure I keep my promise to myself. I take the shutdown as an indication that 'now' is the time to leave. And I did.
When I leave the house, there are several walks I can take. I prefer not having to cover the same area twice on the same day. I decided which walk I would do today. It is one I had not done yet this year.
I have been noticing the trees that are decked out right now in their magnificent glory. I thought about a poem our grade 7 teacher talked about:
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
- Joyce Kilmer
Any pictures I take do not capture how beautiful the trees really are but they bring back the memory of how I enjoyed seeing them.
My walk was in the country. I think that over the years I have fallen in love with every farmhouse in the area, at one time or another. Recently I have been passing a farm that is being torn down. I have not heard exactly what is happening but the farm happens to be next to a big lot that houses trailers and motor homes. Hubby and I have been speculating.
The property was always unkempt and messy but we enjoyed seeing the animals they used to have. When my children were growing up, they were friends with the kids who lived on the farm. They had a big old work horse that the kids could ride around the yard. We enjoyed watching the sheep. Classes from the nearby school often visited. It is sad to think those days are past. I am wondering if they are planning to tear down the big old brick farmhouse. I would love to wander through it as I have never been inside. But of course there are 'no trespassing' signs all around.
I find that I am almost in some kind of 'trance' when I am walking. My mind flits from one subject to another. Sometimes I wish I could write my thoughts while I am walking because I know they will be gone once I return home.
Sometimes I pray for whomever comes to mind. Once I am out there, I feel like to could walk 'forever'. Unfortunately, my legs disagree. At that point, I am unsure if walking further would strengthen them or cause problems.
Today I was gone for just under 2 hours. It was a wonderful day for a walk.
According to my pedometer, I walked 14,575 steps. I am happy and I believe I made up for missing Saturday.
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