Today marked the beginning of my exercise attack on fat, to go along with Weight Watchers. I have not added exercise before because lugging a lot of extra pounds is brutally hard on the knees and back. With forty of those pounds gone, or as I like to think of it, the equivalent of a large bag of dog chow, it was time to start. Also, it was a gorgeous morning, with a cool breeze, the scent of honeysuckles, and the sky a blazing blue. I walked in my quiet little neighborhood, in an area that is relatively flat, and for a short distance, although it took 45 minutes.
After about 5 minutes, I was joined by a neighbor, a Thai Buddhist monk, who with several fellow monks has lived here for 20 years. We met early on after my family moved to the neighborhood, when he came to my door in a panic looking for someone who could handle a problem with the phone company. He could not speak enough English to be understood by his "customer service representative" or, in fact by me, and it was only after I found that he and I could communicate fairly well with a combination of French and pantomime was I able to resolve his telephone problem. He has been forever grateful, and we have had pleasant exchanges over the years. Every day, rain or shine, he breezes past my house, smiling and waving if I am outside. He maintains a brisk pace, so today he kindly slowed down to my pitiful speed to chat for a while and then sped off on his routine. What a lovely, happy spirited man.
So anyway, slathered with sunblock and wearing a floppy white cotton sun hat and carrying my hiking staff to steady myself, I poked along and looked at my neighbors' beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, until I reached a stop sign, took it to heart, turned around, and headed for home.
I should elaborate on my staff, because elaborate is exactly what it is. Made by a Georgia folk artist who doesn't have so much as his own website, I picked it up in Newnan a few weeks ago. His staffs could be said to be themed. The top is crowned with a picture encased in a clear plastic, trimmed with glitter and bead work, then the rest of the staff is ornamented with large "jewels," more bead work and trim. And the picture up top? I chose a picture of St. Francis, but one was capped with the face of Sarah Palin, another with the Budweiser logo, and others with the American flag.
He's nothing if not eclectic, but with his finger on the pulse of the people, so to speak.
I looked suspiciously like Gandolph as I plugged along, but I am just sorry that I am probably not brave enough to take my staff out in public beyond my neighborhood. I sense it would like a good trip further afield, but would my family be seen with me? They are a little suspicious of me sometimes as it is.
To those thoughtful souls who have offered comments on my blog, I want you to know you are read and appreciated, and I will respond soon. Time has been at such a premium lately that finding time to blog three times a week is about all I can do. You aren't being ignored! Have a good Memorial Day weekend, and to my friends at the Decatur Book Festival, I am thinking of you and wishing you cooling breezes and good sales.
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