On the Run

                                         

It was a good afternoon for a run and a great day to take in earth's sounds along the way.

Louder in my ears than the songs of birds and sounds of traffic

I realize, near the end of my run

snow's thawing running gurgling water

has been keeping pace with me all along

just at street's edge.

The last corner comes and we part.

Water rushes the corner's grate, 

drops through--

an echoing fall--

and away,

river bound.

I turn south onto Grove Street--

and home.

                          

steps 3359

duration   24:45

distance  1:47 mi.

91% walking

 9%  running

I like my pedometer app and the information it captures and stores.

Yet, as I cool down and stretch, I realize the best parts of the run reside between the numbers in a category called something like "stopping to talk".

• A homeowner is clearing the slush from her driveway. I stop to comment on her big orange cat. I learn about the cat's life, their two dogs, and finally I am rewarded with a little attention from Pumpkin. I smile as I move on. Cat and lady share hair color.

• A mom is pushing a stroller. Her son is helping her push it.  He smiles and looks up as she tells me it's soon his birthday! He will be 1 on the 28th. When you are almost one it is much more fun to push than to ride.

• Two neighbor children with a big shop broom are plotting and playing in the water.  They recognize me and their sweet voices greet me as I move past them.

• A friend honks from her driveway. We exchange news through her car window and then we're off . . .  she to the farm and me toward Grove Street.

Q: Is there something about moving along a street 

at a slow pace

that draws you into the life of it?

A: I think so.