I may have mentioned this before (like yesterday?), but I am not a morning person. Lately, however, I have a newfound appreciation for it. And a large part of that is due to this secluded, peaceful, serene, walking trail. It gets me going in the mornings.
At first, I just walked on it. Now, I am up to jogging (and I mean SLOWLY jogging) a mile or so then walking back. Here are a few things I LOVE about this trail. 1.) It is at a slight decline for the first mile or so. That is why I jog down and walk back. I’m a thinker. 2.) It is covered in a canopy of trees. This is wonderful when it is hot out, plus, it just feels cozy and sheltered. 3.) I love to hear the birds singing in the morning. I wish I could play you an audio of my mornings. 4.) There are critters everywhere. I almost always see rabbits, squirrels, birds, etc., but today, I had two coyotes jump right out in front of me. Scared the crap out of me actually. And I think I did the same to them. But it’s always fun to see the animal life on the trail.
When I’m on the Nature Trail, I take my phone along with me. I do it for several reasons, one being it is so secluded that sometimes I freak myself out that there is a bad guy lurking in the bushes and it makes me feel better to have my phone along. Another reason is, I sometimes get calls from family members with urgent questions. Like, “Mom, what is for breakfast this morning?” or “Mom, do you know where my pliers are?” You know, things like that. And the last reason I take my phone on the trail is for a deep, dark secret that’s too embarrassing to tell.
So, imagine me jogging down the trail, when I hear my phone go “Ding-Ding.” And I think, “Hum…that’s odd. I’ve never heard my phone make that noise before. One of the kids must have gotten it and messed with my ringtones.” So I check my phone. My phone was not lit up. Then I think, “Well, maybe it was my zipper clinking against something metal.” I check my zipper and it is coated in plastic. “What on earth was that noise?! It sounded much like a bike bell—“ And just as I was coming to the conclusion that it was a bike bell, it rang one more time as I whipped my head around to see an older gentleman trying to pass me. That poor man. He was very kind about the whole thing and I made a mental note that in the future, when I hear that sound, MOVE OVER. What can I say…I’m a thinker!
(Okay, and I have never been good at keeping secrets, so the final reason I take my phone is so that I can play FreeCell on the way back. WHEW! There. I said it. Yes, I am one of those people who walks while on their cell phone. Please don’t judge me!)
Hope have great day!