Y.A.W.
August 19, 2005
Yet Another Walk.
Mother Nature did some light house cleaning last night, as evidenced by leafy twigs, small tree branches and other detritus along my morning walk route. The air felt soft and smelled clean in the aftermath of last night’s thunderstorms. Once again I thanked my Maker for the long string of dashes, runs, jogs, and walks He has allowed me since mid-1977 - 27,663 miles worth, to be exact. It’s good to be alive.
As I approached 22nd and Washington, a lithe, young mother crossed in front of me briskly pushing a baby buggy and talking non-stop to whomever or whatever was in it. Something clicked in my memory bank. I pictured another young mother, surname Ayers, pushing a borrowed buggy along a deteriorating ocean boardwalk in Red Bank, New Jersey, during the hurricane season of 1954. The wind off the ocean was fresh and gusty, portending the imminent arrival of Hurricane Hazel. Son Larry was getting his morning outing and his mother a little exercise while I was completing my Officer’s Basic Training at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Said son had by this time survived falling on his head and noisy parties and rats in our basement apartment (coming up through the toilet) and who knows what other hazards, but he eventually grew up and turned into a good, if slightly eccentric, man, the very model of a classical liberal. (That’s a complement, Larry, in case you’re wondering.)
Another block and I came upon a puddle of rainwater in the street with a half-dozen robins sitting in it. Really. What were they doing, besides staring at me as I strode by? I don’t ever recall seeing several robins just sitting in a puddle of water before, or in a birdbath for that matter. It may have just been the novelty of groundwater after a long, hot, and dry summer. I bet it felt good.
Dave
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Hi Dave,
What a lovely picture you paint of Marilyn, all of about 20 years or so, right(!) and baby on the boardwalk. I can imagine her jacket blowing in the sea breeze and Larry looking out all alert and eager, like he still does today… Yes, I can identify with that nostalgic parent mode also (I do it all the time).
BTW, your blog is quite spiffy! (This is my first blog comment ever!) Betsy
Thanks, Betsy. Your comment came through loud and clear.