Wednesday, July 22, 2015. At work today the glorious sun beaming through the window panes lured me outside to eat lunch. Today was the day “I start” walking during my lunch time.
Entering the concrete and brick picnic area outside my office I hatched my plan. After gobbling down a healthy cold slice of pizza and washing it down with a protein shake I would walk 1 mile. Grabbing my lunch bag, weighed down with a bottle of water and my latest reading material, I set out.
With the pizza churning into a nice dough ball in my stomach I walked briskly toward Main Street out of the courtyard of the brick office building where I worked. The smell of freshly spread blacktop sealer seared my nose. I patiently waited at the busy corner of Main St. and Harlem Road for the light to change to begin my latest adventure. Walking across this intersection every day is taking my life into my own hands as cars whiz by without regard to pedestrian right of way. Making it safely across I wished I had remembered to bring my walking shoes to work. Walking in high-heeled sandals was a challenge, but I looked good. I think.
I walked past a florist, three restaurants, a gas station and a drug store then found a quiet dead end street that I immediately knew was today’s walking path. The street was residential with craftsman homes that all had neat, tidy yards. I could hear birds singing and spied children coloring with chalk on the sidewalk across the street. This neighborhood was idyllic and charming.
Unfortunately, I suddenly realized in my eagerness to “start” I neglected to start my phone app that keeps my pace. Not losing stride I quickly started it up and chugged along. My left foot had a funny twang that I disregarded to the fact that high-heeled sandals are not walking shoes. As I came to the dead end of the street I realized I had to turn around. Yuck. I don’t want to ever turnaround, so I walked up the other side of the street, reasoning that this was a new path since it was on the opposite side of the street.
Slowing my pace I enjoyed the gardens of the houses I passed. 
There was a house with two Adirondack chairs in the front yard, just calling out to weary travelers. I wasn’t weary, so I carried on. Main Street was ahead and along with it, loud bangs from a garbage truck, cars honking and weaving around the street. My feet hit the concrete sidewalk hard and I wondered if any of the Appalachian Trail was on a sidewalk. I hope not much, if any.
Carefully making my way back to work, I resisted the urge to stop at TWO ice cream shops and a chocolate shop. Walking on the concrete and black top is not my ideal conditions and I knew what I had to. Approaching my office building I walked around to the side and found a lush green patch of grass.
Not much, but it was enough. 
I was tempted to pull my sandals off, but a bee lurking at a wild strawberry flower stopped me. I felt the tickle of the grass on my ankles and toes and breathed in a deep, cleansing breath. I checked my pace, figuring in my “lost” portion with the map.
My pace was 1.1 miles and I was so glad “I Started” walking during lunch today.
trailchaser2020 