My Walk Club

You know life seems like water to me.  As soon as I have some epiphany about it.  Life just slips through.  If it is a flowing "thing" then slipping through is good.  There's an old song "All My Life's a Circle".  Find it and enjoy!

Today was Kathryn's birthday.  Terri had a whole list of running to do.  We started out and had time for walk so we called our friend Elaine in Strasburg.  She was open to an early morning walk so we met and walked from one end of Strasburg to the other.  Even though I am a Realtor and can get from point a to point b, if names are needed we are in trouble.

We walked along some of the back streets and what people have been doing is amazing. Strasburg's older homes are getting fixed up and they look great!  One Elaine said was on the house tour and is a second home.  Everything, house and yard were picture perfect.

There were porches that called out to be sat on.  One lady was leaving and we told her how much we liked her porch.

Oh and the different sidewalks, brick, fake brick, stone, creatively styled.  While the yards are still emerging for spring, the hardscapes were fun.  One house had a really great addition on the back with a perfect patio.  Modern yet so fitting to the old house.

Walking is a verb, not something to hold or box up.  You experience it by doing it.  It just flows from you.  There must be a spiritual part to walking!

Poor Elaine is a CPA and knee deep in taxes so I think she enjoyed the walk too. We stopped at the coffee shop for refreshments and visited.  What better tonic than a laugh with friends.  I highly recommend it.

We walked back to her house along the same way with minor detours, enjoying the different homes, trees and budding plants.  Breathing in with our eyes the bursting of spring.  It was nice.

Thanks Elaine.

Hopefully I will see everyone reading this blog out walking soon.  Don't miss it.  Now is all we get.  Now is eternal but it only happens once.  You may remember yesterday or look to tomorrow, but you can only do that in the now.  I believe it was designed for us to enjoy.  So enjoy now.  Then share your joy!

Ron

This weekend we walked on Saturday with Carol and Arnie, Mark and Noel and Terri and I.  We began the walk on Water Street,  The ladies quickly were talking while the men followed in their group.

Water Street was it's usual magnificent self.  Now that warmer weather is here the grass is greening and daffodils and crocus are appearing all over.   The horse farm at the end of Water Street had the clouds rising with the sun coming up.  It was picture perfect.

Discussion among the men ranged from sports and monies involved to what was your favorite movie.  I like movies and why people like them.  Even movies that I might consider weird are viewed in a different light when I hear how the movie is perceived.  "Oh I hadn't thought of it that way".

We continued the walk down Main Street with Mark and Noel heading home to do errands.  So many things look different as you walk and there is almost always something that I have never noticed.  Like a neon open sign in a beauty shop.  Last week I saw it looking down an alley even though we walk by it daily.

Carol had never been on the old alley along  Stoney Creek.  So from Main Street we cut up the alley by the old brick home.  Quite the photo opportunity too.  You walk high above Stoney Creek overlooking the old Mill.  Then there is a well maintained path that descends into a field next to the water.

We crossed under the train tressel and walked past the original Miller's house for the mill.  The house is not in the best of shape but it still has an elegance about it.  With a lot of the old homes around the area there is a stone wall.  It is amazing to me how they built such large and grand walls.  Sometimes the stones are huge.   Hopefully someone will take on the task of doing a true restoration on the property.

As we came out on Stoney Creek Blvd, Carol and Arnie saw the old school and knew where we were.  While Carol was doing well we may have gotten carried away in our first walk together so we headed back through town.

Laughlin's was having an auction in their new building so we stopped and looked in.  Alas no treasures to tempt us.  Several weeks ago they had sold a birth certificate for over $10,000.   Makes you want to see what you could get for yours?  ha ha

Another great day and a great walk!

Till tomorrow,

Ron

Walking is man's best medicine.

Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC)

Not that I can afford to be some health snob, because I share the same problems as you do.  Last year the doctor said I was pre-diabetic which drove me nuts.

Fortunately Noel and Mark moved into our subdivision and were walkers too.  While walking has been part of my life for many years, walking under  32 degrees was not my thing.

Well Noel is the drill sargent of the group so she said I simply needed the right clothes.  So I scavenged for the high tech long johns and some running pants.  Layering is the buzz word.  3 layers on top and 2 on bottom with the new fibers wicking the persperation from your body.  Finding a coat that is water resistent is good too.

So there I was transformed from bubba atire (down vest, regular jacket and flannel lined jeans) into the new and improved version.  It was all going great except, I was freezing.  The problem may be that I don't and won't ever move as much as Noel.  She is like the energizer bunny on steroids!

So I compromised by adding a nice wool sweater in the middle.  Can you say ahh with me?

Once you find that place where you are comfortable,  the winter weather should not prevent you from walking.  Another fine point is gloves and socks.  Wool socks are my friend.  I wear them all winter long and they keep me toasty.  No more freezing feet during the winter!   Now as to gloves I bought an Eddie Bauer pair of gloves last summer and they are warm, too warm.  My hands would sweat in them and stink.  I have never had that problem before.

Then one day we were in Harrisonburg for our weekly pilgrimage (my daughter is in the bowling league there) and in a discount grocery store there were wool gloves for $1.99.  My kind of deal.  I wondered what the catch was and if they would last but they did.  They breath and keep your hands warm.  Even as the temps are climbing now into the 40's and 50's, these gloves are great.  Another bonus is they wash nicely, because they are also your kleenex.  Gross but true (not as gross for men but certainly for the ladies).  Noel at first said she uses socks on her hands.  I tried that but the gloves are my favorite.

The good news is I had the blood test  which measures the last 6 months of blood sugar and I am normal.  So thanks to my great walking buddies and drill sargent Noel.

I am normal.  At least my blood sugar is ok.  ha ha