Today was a fun day. In the early morning sunshine two bootcamp buds and I met at The Nature Center at Edwin Warner Park and walked a 6 mile trail. It was a glorious morning and, with the great weather, pounding hearts and great conversation the hike went fast. To me anyway. . .Kelsey might beg to differ on that. There are a few hills on the hike and Kelsey started noticing them after about three or four. I told her it's only uphill throughout the beginning and then downhill during the second half. In reality it's up and down all the way but she didn't seem to notice many of the downhills! Toward the end we got off the trail and walked a little on a roadway because she squeaked "Karen, do we have to go UP THERE?" pointing to a small upcoming incline. Truly I almost asked if she was 83, not 23. But she'd had about all she could take of hill climbing so we took an alternate route the last mile to minimize the elevation! Youngsters these days!
They both came back to my house after, met Charles (although Gloria had met him before) & Nigel, & had a drink before going their respective merry ways. An hour later I met another friend, Dawn, at the nail place down the road for a pedicure. It was good to catch up with her while having my toes filed, massaged and painted. Right across the parking lot from the nail shop is a McDonalds &, believe it or not, my car just took me to the drive-through when I started it up! I ordered & enjoyed a soft-serve ice cream cone on my drive home, while giving the car a good talking-to about not doing that again.
A neighborhood friend, Katie, had asked if she could borrow my bike for a week or so (she's thinking of getting one & wants to try it out) and I said I'd ride it down to her. I haven't been on my bike in 2 years. It's new (well 3 years old but only ridden maybe half dozen times) and is an old-fashioned beach cruiser with white walled tires and a wicker basket on the front. It is totally adorable! I began to ride it thru the 'hood. The sun was beaming, the breeze was blowing & it felt so wonderful to be pedaling around! I'm a little nervous of it because you brake by pedaling backwards & I have never had a bike that does that. My first time on it I almost went over the handlebars, so I took it slowly and did a few laps before delivering it to Katie. She hasn't been on a bike in twenty years and proceeded to ride it around the place with squeals of child-like joy! Even after I was home, I kept catching glances of her going in different directions all over the neighborhood. Fun.
Late afternoon I napped for almost two hours (I don't know, can a two hour sleep be called a nap?) and then walked Nigel, paying attention incase Katie was still cruising around in the dark! On my walk I began thinking about something Kelsey had asked me on our hike. She'd asked how long I'd known Karen because it seems like we've been friends for years. I told her I met her at bootcamp but that we feel like we've been friends for a long time. Karen has more time to hang out and we have a little regular date of a glass or two of wine after work every now and again, so I've gotten to know her better. I love her, I really do. She has an amazing, open heart; an acceptance of everyone for who they are and where they are on this life journey. I am one hundred percent myself with her and she just 'gets' me. My gypsy heart, my restlessness, this constant pull of the world on me, wanting to get up and leave, and wander the planet. She has this ability to make me see things differently, to not take life so seriously. For the most part I'm not a serious person but now and again I'll get off on a tangent, whining about some part of getting older, the thinning skin, the new lines on my face, the sagging extra chin. Karen will identify and commiserate with me but then make me see the futility of giving such things my energy and even shows me the hilarity of us caring about it! None of us is safe from the perils of aging. All we can do - like everyone else - is the best we know how. And then laugh and move on. I love that woman - every woman should have a friend like her. She is one of the biggest gifts the universe has ever given me and I only hope I can be even half the blessing she is to me, to her.
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