So Many Dishes

I

Today’s prompt is making me feel guilty, because I haven’t been out for a walk this morning. While I try to get out five days a week for at least 30 minutes, I’ve failed miserably at that goal this week. Either Ken or I have had a morning appointment, and then we had workers here yesterday to install new gutters on the house. And this time of year, with the South Florida heat and humidity, plus afternoon thunderstorms, it’s not safe to walk later in the day.

But I feel good when we walk. And it was a sanity saver during Covid lockdown. During that time, we walked a minimum of three miles a day, and we walked every single day. What brought that to an end was an inflamed IT band in my right leg. Then, of course, as restrictions lifted and life moved back toward normal, we had less time for walking. But we’ve tried to keep it a priority.

We have a routine: we read the newspaper on our tablets as we have breakfast, then walk and discuss what we’ve read. We carry water bottles and crackers or trail mix, and usually stop once or twice, depending on how far we’re going. Then there are my photo stops; my favorite part of walking is observing the plants and animals we pass. Sometimes Ken gives me an impromptu botany lesson about a particular plant. If we walk in the equestrian preserve portion of our community, we have several horses that we visit if they’re in the paddock.

One of my favorite places to walk is the beach. Although we have to drive there, we’re fortunate to live close enough to do it occasionally. It truly is the most peaceful place to walk.

Wherever you are, I hope you go for a walk!