Walkers (not zimmers, people!)

[Previously posted elsewhere]
Professor Morano shared several entries from "My Vegetable Love: A Journal of a Growing Season" by Carl H. Klaus with her graduate class in the Personal Essay. They made quite an impression on me.

I've been thinking a lot about the concept as it might apply to the aftermath of my heart attack. Of course, if I was going to start a daily journal about the experience of recovery I'm just a tad late in starting, about three months late! That said, the idea of sucking meaning from even the smallest but peculiar occurence or revelation on a day-by-day basis still appeals to me.

For instance, the neighborhood in which I live has never had sidewalks (nor curbs for that matter). So everyone walks in the street including the kids on their way to the grammar school nearby. I'm more aware of streetwalkers now that I've become one. Our street goes west for one block then curves into a tiny street only to curve again back toward the main street. Similar to a cul de sac only longer and with a short exit in the middle. I trudge around this horseshoe generally once a day in the early morning. Happy to report the trudging pace has picked up as I walk more often and for longer periods. I've even added other neighborhoods and parks just to relieve the boredom.

Once I started going out at different times and to less familar places, I noticed more and more solitary folks striding their way in a determined fashion even in the August heat. Only a couple of times have I seen two women walking together, although charging up the sidewalk would be a more accurate description. For the most part it is a single individual pacing along his or her set path.And no, they're not all walkers, some are bike riders. One lady tickles me because of the huge purse she has strapped across her as she rides. I'm not sure what she could possibly have in it that she might need on her ride. . .. I'm glad that she's riding. I root for her and inwardly applaud her effort, but she doesn't wear a helmet and that bothers me. There's also a guy who rides against traffic and I worry a bit about him but when I start riding again I will do the same.

We have much in common, these other older streetwalkers and bike riders. For instance we don't stop to sniff the flowers because it would throw us off our pace. We do, however, speak to everyone we pass even if they're just putting out the garbage in the dim light before dawn. I have a theory about why we greet each other particularly (we're so easy to spot!) as well as anyone else who's in the vicinity, but I'll have to hold that thought for next time.