Today was exactly what a Sunday should be. I was able to put aside some of the things that were concerning me and just enjoy the day. Most of my concerns I could do nothing about, being a Sunday, and the others weren’t altogether that pressing, so I set out with the sole objective of enjoying the day. And I certainly did.
Reaching my objective was aided by my rejoining the Heritage Rail Trail where I had left it yesterday. It was the perfect morning, about 55 degrees, crisp and clean, and being in a valley, the trail still had a lot of color on the trees, So off I went, heading north, alongside the old railroad tracks covered in leaves. There were quite a few walkers and runners, bicyclists, people of all ages. But above all, there were no cars! It was such a nice reprieve. I didn’t have to watch oncoming cars, worry about stupid text-and-drive types, and there was no noise from the cars and trucks!
I doff my cap to the King who got this Heritage Rail Trail in place. It is so nice, and such a great way to take advantage of existing infrastructure and making something for all to use. This particular one is just at 21 miles long - even I can walk that - but it turns out, this is only one of 186 such trails in PA alone, 2,097 miles! It goes back to taking care of or repairing what we already have in place, instead of building everything new and letting the old just rot away. I assume the other trails are equally pretty, but today the combination of the colors, the stream running parallel, the weather and wind, the walking surface… everything perfectly in place for me, and I actually felt better after having walked about 17 miles than I did when I started.
And along the way… d’you remember that kindness thing I’ve been talkin’ bout? First it was Liz and Sarah, kindness to animals this time. I met them walking their eight (8), yes eight retired greyhounds. Like retired racehorses, they too need care after they’ve fulfilled their original purpose, and kudos to all of you that care for retired animals. They were so cool, and so properly dressed, as were Sarah and Liz :) We had a nice trail chat, learned a little bit about one other and then went our merry ways.
A few miles up the trail I saw this. It was on the side of the trail, a big lawn away from a nice little house. The lady that put it there was mowing her lawn, probably for the last time until next Spring, and we waved to one another. My wave was a thank you, even though I didn’t take any water, and hers a you’re welcome. Unless there’s something I don’t know, she has absolutely no reason to do this except to be kind to the strangers walking behind her yard. And that is a great reason. Wouldn’t it be nice if every single day, every one of us would do something nice for a stranger? We are mostly kind to our family and friends, but just once a day, a little kindness for someone we don’t know. That’s seven billion nice acts a day folks, just sayin’.
Inevitably, I rewound to some of the past 13 Sundays, still in disbelief that I actually walked out of Zilker Park 13 weeks ago today. It was a Sunday I won’t soon forget, and I’m looking forward to walking there in a handful of weeks. I think I’ll throw a party. And thirteen Sundays later, I’m pleased to say that I’m still very glad I took that first step.
And I leave you with the photo album entitled Happy Sunday the Thirteenth…
