I live on the outskirts of
town just west of the interstate in a PUD or planned unit development. There
are no sidewalks in my neighborhood, but traffic is sparse and drivers are
careful and courteous so I have no problem walking on the side of the street
within my little community. As in most PUDs, there is one way in with the same
way out.
Not being much of a
structured exerciser, walking is my normal way of getting in that thirty
minutes per day recommended by most primary care doctors. The weather and
season determine the time of day for my outing. During this period of
sheltering in place, it has become the highlight of my day. Other walkers
carefully observe the six-foot limit for which I am grateful, and I have noticed
that our numbers have greatly increased during this imposed stay-at-home phase.
Although barely noticeable in
a car, abundant hills and valleys optimize the effectiveness of my walks. If I
am feeling especially optimistic, I start out heading west which is immediately
uphill. Other days it is east or downhill first, a short stroll to the main
road, to get warmed up. Then, it is a turn-around and back uphill.
You may think that walking
the same route everyday would become dull, but it never does. I am always
seeing different people, some walking their dog, some with children, some
walking (or jogging) purposefully, even some cyclists, skateboarders or
scooters. In the past a nod or small wave of the hand sufficed for a greeting,
but now almost everyone wants to pause a moment and chat (keeping that six-foot
distance). Many of them seem to notice “how old I am” and want to make sure
that I have everything I need, offering to help if necessary, making sure I
know their name and where they live. They are so nice. Of course, the UPS man,
Amazon Prime, FedEx, and the mail person always give a friendly wave and
sometimes even a toot of their horn.
Things and people in the
neighborhood are always changing with moves in and out, new roofs being put on,
painting being done, landscapes being improved and lots more, so there is never
a lack of new discoveries. Birds, squirrels, and flowers hold my interest and
keep my finger on my phone for photos. I have even seen a fox and a coyote at
different times. The coyote was so skinny I felt sorry for him and a little
afraid. I have noticed a snake or two or three and always distance myself more
than that six-foot minimum. My mantra is that if they don’t bother me, I don’t
bother them.
It used to be that when I
walked on Saturdays, I might pass by a garage sale or two, but with the social
distancing I have not seen any for quite a while. They always made my walk more
interesting and enjoyable. There is something about a garage sale that gives a
nosy person like me a look into some stranger’s life that normally would not be
seen. I always had a few dollars in my pocket on Saturdays and usually found
something interesting to carry back home with me. A little shelf over my
kitchen range that holds some spices is a neighborhood garage sale find that I
painted and ‘artsied-up’.
I consider plantings by
mailboxes fair game for flower cuttings, and I delight when finding these free,
almost magical, ways to grow new plants. Recently, I have broken off sprigs of
rosemary and wandering jew, and they are now in my garden window in vases of
water growing new roots. I am not sure why people would have these kinds of
plants growing beside their mailboxes, but it is not for me to ask. I am just
glad they do.
I must admit that one time I
was scared by some dogs that had gotten loose. Nothing happened, but I swore
that in the future I would always carry my umbrella for protection. I never
remembered to do that and luckily have never seen roaming dogs again. Lots of
times I hear barking, but it always comes from behind a sturdy fence.
I notice some people
listening to music, or maybe an audio book, while walking, but in my opinion
that defeats the whole purpose of being outside. I walk to be entertained by
nature and want all my senses honed in on Mother Earth. Or maybe I am one
of those people who have trouble doing two things at once. Regardless, when I am
outside, I want to see all there is to see, smell all the different smells,
hear all there is to hear, and use all my senses to get the most from that
thirty minutes of freedom. Here’s hoping you have enjoyed a walk recently, and
if you have anything to share about it, let me know.
