For years I have enjoyed walking for exercise in my neighborhood. In the Northwest where I live, for a good nine months I have learned to carry an umbrella because from block to block the rain comes and goes. I’ve learned to love the rain even during windy cold downpours that drench my clothes and shoes despite that handy umbrella. I tell my husband who remarks, “You’re crazy!” when I return home that it’s worth it because I’m invigorated and besides that my appreciation of the comfort of home has been renewed. But the Northwest also has a blustery colorful windup to summer each spring and provides another gentle autumnal leafy path to winter. Lately our summers have been hotter and hotter and drier which is weird because it has been so unlike the rest of the year. I don’t walk in the heat at all! And I am always amazed to see people out walking in the most frightful temperatures when I rarely see anyone at all on my rainy adventures. Unfortunately, because of knee issues I've recently been biking at the gym but today I went out for a trial walk just to see if there had been an improvement. On my way home I climbed a 126 step staircase that links two streets in my neighborhood. Halfway up there’s a there‘s a lovely house and the front door is right there. A path leads past the door to the rest of the staircase and that’s the place I look forward Just before the first step there’s a wall always topped by a large glass vase filled with fresh flowers. Today there were whitish pinkish roses and purple mums. Who are these people who provide this gift to those who venture up that daunting staircase? Why? Whatever the answer, for me, I think it’s generosity and optimism and I look forward to the day I’ll see someone near that door or wall so I can tell them what I see in that vase.
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