A Morning Junket

I don't know what got into me. I did some walking today. Maybe too much walking. I awoke this morning at about 7AM. I had some cereal and coffee and though I turned on the TV, I kept one eye staring out the window at the relatively clear skies. Finally I could not take it anymore and I grabbed a jacket and headed for the door. My destination was Coldspring Park in Newton, Massachusetts. I was going to walk there. Yes; walk. I estimated the distance to be around two miles.

No sooner than I got out the door did I realize that the safari was a good idea. It was not yet 8 AM and the traffic was almost nil. In fact, it was as though the whole world was still lying in bed. I felt exhilarated.

It really did not take me very long to reach my destination, not nearly as long as I expected. From the time I left my apartment on Chestnut Street near Elliot Street, to my arrival at the edge of the park, about forty-five minutes had passed. And I was not hurrying. I decided I would slowly wander across the park headed in the general direction of Crystal Lake which is maybe a quarter of a mile from Coldspring Park. I just doddled my way across the park. It took me about a half hour before I reached the south end of Crystal Lake.

At Crystal Lake I sat on a bench and just gazed across the shimmering water. Simply sitting there seemed therapeutic. There was still almost no one out and about. I saw a man walking his dog, a bicyclist or two, and a few joggers, that was about it. I finally wandered my way around to the north end of the lake.

At that point I thought; why stop now? So I made my way over to the Newton Cemetery, which is about one fourth of a mile down the street from the north end of Crystal Lake. I must have a morbid side because I enjoy a good cemetery. And Newton Cemetery is a good one. I occasionally go birding there. It is very pretty and well-kept. There are a number of big old trees, and there are a couple of pristine ponds too. When I'm not in a cemetery looking overhead for birds, I am usually meandering along, looking down at the grave markers. I'm not sure what it is about tombstones that draws me in. Maybe they help me appreciate my life. Maybe. I don't really know.

The hike back home took about an hour. I was taking my good old sweet time. I arrived at my apartment about noon, give or take. It was a pretty good day to go out meandering around; dry and cool. I am about to fix my second cup of coffee in the last hour or so. I am planning to visit my fitness center, but after today's excursion maybe I'll just hold off and go tomorrow. It probably depends on what the coffee's caffeine does for me.