Outside the Door

On one hand, my age puts me in the get the virus, move to pneumonia and no more worries stage.  On the other hand, I am responsible for only me, enjoy cooking, am in good health, considering, and live only a door away from the outdoors. Walking at a leisurely pace is my exercise of choice. I did try to rev up to the 10,000 steps a day at the first of all this spare time.  Three days and my body spoke loud and clearly, “What are you thinking of?” Now I have a moment of thankfulness that I am not in a residential home lock down and clock around the block or its equivalent four times a day as enough to stir the blood, as husband David used to say.

Outside with purpose opens more than a wooden door.  Speaking contact with people is readily available.  One family with three children on bikes and a jogging dad speak or wave a hand as they pass.  The nanny of a preschooler down the street brings him and his snack to have a morning break at my Little Free Library bench.  From the 6 feet requirement he and I discussed the literary merit of Learn Your Colors. A teenager I don’t know evidently had mowing the lawn added to his free time.  His mother sat on the house steps to evaluate the process. Oh, I could use an Identify Your Dog book. Big ones, little ones, voiced trained, and on a leash.  When had they all been walked three weeks ago?

If I am the only one out, there is still that amazing varied nature.  I need to be careful not to trip, so I watch my feet and the roots.  Oak trees reaching out can raise a sidewalk and evidently will continue to do so.  A crepe myrtle spreads to the side or underground to appear like a snake across a yard.  House to house the yards can be divided into those cared for with colorful beds or free growing ones that have never known an edger.  Motion of leaves and a slight sound come from March breezes or winds, depending on the day.

In other places, workers without my blessing of time choices are rushing, saving lives, holding danger at bay.  I wish I could offer them a reprieve, Just a moment to notice that spring has come again, that dogs chase squirrels, that children squeal at the flight of a butterfly. Even where we are now, signs of the Creator still point to love and care. I chose a song this week and found there is no way I have the skill to add a link to open. Select your favorite from various This is My Father’s World offerings. I found one from Cedarmont Kids Praise Music Video where the pictures give vistas  leading to the words “ne’er forget that though the wrong seems, oh, so strong, God is the ruler yet.”