My Walk Club

While the author is unknown to the quote above it is so true.  Yesterday I awoke to a computer glitch with my online banking that sent me from zero to sixty in no time.

First i wigged, then I prayed and then I went for a walk.  It is times like these that walking partners are great.  I told Mark and Noel what happened and they commiserated their experiences with the same thing.  Before long the craziness and stress of it were gone.

Halfway down Water Street, the loose dog was more of a problem.  The we discussed the more weighty matters of life.  Like what we were going to eat that evening and adding recipes to this blog.

Did I mention I was vegetarian too.  Not a good one but a trying one.  That's my life! ha ha

Yesterday morning was amazing with the moon looking purplish and pushing through clouds over the Shentel building.  Then as the sun began to rise we enjoyed the clearing and warmth of the sun.  Great morning.

So upon arriving home I called the bank and Sharon was great.  I told her what the problem was and she said "no problem" we can take care of it.

Instead of a small insignificant "thing" controlling my life and taking on a life of it's own, it was reduced.  Now how did that happen?  I went for a walk.  I moved on with living not worrying.  Trust me that's not easy, but it works and we can all do it.  We should all do it.

Don't tell anyone but I think we are designed to live,  not worry.  What a concept.  So get out of that box!

So let me know what interests you about walking.  Feedback is good!  I think we have a walking club starting in Woodstock, too!  Go Eva and Peg!

As my mother would say, "go take a walk and get the stink blown off ya!"

Till Monday, keep walkin!

Ron

I was never a fan of Mr. Rogers for two reasons.  He wasn't available when I was a kid and later in life he took too long to tie his shoes!   I now know that was deliberate because he knew tv was going to be a wasteland and he was shooting for something more.  Now I am a Mr. Rogers fan and I want to live in Mr. Rogers neighborhood!  (if you never read "The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers" you should).

Today we walked a little later.  Who said we can't  be flexible.   Maryann a friend of Noel's was visiting and it was great to have someone new to share what we experience everyday.  While we might feel jaded as to our exuberance with our wonderful area, it is reassuring to find someone like Maryann say "wow" as well.

We went down our usual way to Water Street and went to the end with the horsefarm.  It is a great scene with the mountains in the background, and the Shenandoah River meandering along the side.   We walked back up Water Street and crisscrossed through town and then came back on the railroad tracks.   The tracks are a little like the Big Schloss, you have to keep looking at your feet to see where you are stepping.   However I return to being a kid when you start walking or bouncing on them like you are playing  across a keyboard.  It feels like Tom Hanks in the movie "Big".

Can you skip?   I knew you could!

So hopefully Maryann enjoyed the walk and the company.   She must because she asked me to be her friend ( on facebook).   Well Maryann welcome to the neighborhood!

(singing)

It’s such a good feeling to know you’re alive

It’s a such happy feeling

You’re growing inside

And when you wake up ready to say

I think I’ll make a snappy new day

(snaps his fingers twice)

It’s such a good feeling

A very good feeling

The feeling you know that I’ll be back

When the week is new

And I’ll have more ideas for you

And you’ll have things you’ll want to talk about

I will, too.

You always make it a special day and a special week for me, by just your being you. There’s only 1 person in this whole world like you; that’s you yourself, and I like you just the way you are. Good-bye.

Over the weekend we traveled to Wolf Gap and Big Schloss.   Noel, Mark, Arnie and myself set out from the parking lot that was full at Wolf Gap up the trail.  It is a 2 mile trek to the top and starts off relatively easy.  The ascent at first is steep but manageable.  Then you start looking down at the path for which rock to step on or around.  Even though we are all pleading 39 years of age publicly we were in much better shape than a group of 20 somethings who we passed early on the trail.

The trail required us to really watch our steps in certain spots.  We couldn't really enjoy the views or scenery at times.

But when we did stop the views were great.  The climb to the top was well worth every step.  We saw creation from a whole new perspective.  Ahhhhh!

Then I told the tribe my first joke.  My older brother shared it with me as a kid and I still think it is funny.

There were two hunters who combined efforts to win a million dollar prize.  The prize was for the largest elephant brought back to New York in two years.  The first year they searched and only found a little elephant so they came up with a plan.  Put a cork in the elephant and feed it for a year.  If they found a bigger elephant so be it, if they didn't they might win with this one.  They never found a bigger elephant and this one grew to be enormous.  The hunters had also trained a monkey to take the cork out, so when the big day came the monkey pulled the cork out and the hunters next memory was waking up in the hospital.  There were reporters all over and they ran to first bed to ask what had happened.  The first hunter said things just went black.  The reporters then asked the second hunter and he said all he could remember was:

that poor monkey trying to put the cork back in!

I still find this funny because at times we all are like the poor monkey trying to put the cork back in.

Perhaps the point is we shouldn't allow ourselves to be trained to do dumb things.   One major point is the financial season we find ourselves in.  Walk away from the worry job.  You are not a monkey and there a better things in life.  Get out of your house and take a walk.  Get out of your job at lunch and take a walk.  If you are by yourself then enjoy the magnificent show around you.  If you are with a friend then enjoy each other.

It will help.   I promise.