Short Walks

In between the occasionally too hot and too humid summer evenings of this past week, Sam and I managed to squeeze in a few walks. We went on a couple of walks over to the college and another walk, our first one of the year actually, up to the tower.

I don't know what's going on over at the college. There's a little duck pond over there that's been virtually duck-less all year. I've been going over to this college for close to forty years now and I've never seen it without ducks.

You would think that in a small town like this, this would be a major news story - but I've looked around for any news about it and found... nothing. I've considered calling over to the college and asking what the story was, but every time I play it out in my head, I get as far as picturing myself on the phone, asking, "Who's in charge of the ducks?" So I don't make the call.

Anyway, we've gone for a few walks this week. And when we went on our walks at the college, we did what we always do lately - first we checked out the pond - just to see if any of the old residents are back. And, like usual, after commenting each and every time about how I wonder where all the ducks went (me commenting, that is. Sam just humors me with his best bewildered sounding response of, "I don't know!" - as if this is the first time he's ever heard me ask this), we went on our walk.

On the first walk, Sam grabbed his metal detector (and I took along some change) and he spent his time searching for coins - finding a few in the usual spots around the benches and other landmarks. On the second walk we decided to leave the metal detector at home and just look around - though this didn't stop Sam from checking out around the benches - just in case.

There's not a lot of conversation on these walks and without the ducks, these walks tend to be even quieter than usual. On a typical walk, we'll walk along and I'll point something out, and Sam will humor me by being interested. I'll try and make comments about something, and Sam will make a one or two word comment back. I'll mention how out of shape I am, and Sam will agree with me.

At the end of the week, we walked up to the tower. This was our first walk up there this year, and maybe our last one - for a couple of weeks anyway. While there is no question that I need the exercise and that my entire body is out of shape (just ask Sam), but I think it was a little too soon for my newly repaired knee. It's not feeling quite as 'almost' excellent as it was before the walk.

Today, the weather feels beautiful and since we both have the day off, Sam's expressed interest in taking his metal detector over to the field- which sounds like a good idea to me. The field is nice and flat, so I don't need to worry about further straining my knee. And I have plenty of change so we can stay there for a while. And then, maybe later, we'll go see if those ducks are back yet.