Nice things happen when I walk my dog Maya. She and I get out of the house when my 13 year old daughter has almost lost the door to her room and I need time to think and regain my patience. She and I get out of the house when I need to regain my patience over many things.
As I walk, (my knees are no longer able to handle the pounding of running), I have time to reflect on all that has happened in the day past and what is coming up. The time is peaceful, usually dry and Maya is able to listen and not try to solve any of the questions I pose to her.
In the morning neighbors are driving by on their way to work or errands or fun. The birds are out and making their presence known. When I walk a bit later, lone high school students are waiting for their bus, ear buds in and music playing. They sometimes smile at Maya as she does make people smile. It cheers me up too. This is planning for the day time and what is ahead.
In the late evening during the quiet time Maya sniffs what happened on our route that day. Based on her markings I can tell who passed this way, which squirrels were out of the trees and if there was baseball that night.
The streets are quiet enough to make it feel like the neighborhood has drifted back in time to when the sidewalks were new and the trees were just planted. Then the roar of the engine and tires of an approaching car from the village of Wayne pushes us to the side of the road and I hope the driver see the light from my flashlight.
At first these walks were a chore, something imposed on me by a new member of our household. Now they are enjoyable walks with a friend who see the world differently, listens when I need to talk, and is always happy to join me for a late night stroll. Wayne - what a great place
As I walk, (my knees are no longer able to handle the pounding of running), I have time to reflect on all that has happened in the day past and what is coming up. The time is peaceful, usually dry and Maya is able to listen and not try to solve any of the questions I pose to her.
In the morning neighbors are driving by on their way to work or errands or fun. The birds are out and making their presence known. When I walk a bit later, lone high school students are waiting for their bus, ear buds in and music playing. They sometimes smile at Maya as she does make people smile. It cheers me up too. This is planning for the day time and what is ahead.
In the late evening during the quiet time Maya sniffs what happened on our route that day. Based on her markings I can tell who passed this way, which squirrels were out of the trees and if there was baseball that night.
The streets are quiet enough to make it feel like the neighborhood has drifted back in time to when the sidewalks were new and the trees were just planted. Then the roar of the engine and tires of an approaching car from the village of Wayne pushes us to the side of the road and I hope the driver see the light from my flashlight.
At first these walks were a chore, something imposed on me by a new member of our household. Now they are enjoyable walks with a friend who see the world differently, listens when I need to talk, and is always happy to join me for a late night stroll. Wayne - what a great place
