I left work a little early today and decided to put on my new sneakers and take a walk around my neighborhood. I’m always so thankful that we chose this street in my development. The view I see when I step out my front door is a city park that stretches from the top of my street to the bottom and is quite deep. It always gives me a sense of peace and tranquility. We landscaped our front yard last year and created a great patio that I sit on often. My cat loves to play around on all the rocks we put out there, 2 tons, crazy, right?
Most weeknights there are kids playing football and soccer games and tonight is no exception. I always feel bad for the parents; they always look so tired rooting for their kids from the sidelines. I can hear the sound of the kids laughing in the air and the sound of the coaches blowing their whistles. I love how green and sort of unnatural the grass in the park looks with the large stadium lights on. I know the grass is real because sometimes I’ll take my shoes off and just walk barefoot in it, it takes me back in time to my own childhood except there are no bee’s trying to sting our feet.
I’m walking around with an extra spring in my step, it must be the new sneakers. We live in the desert and the night air feels invigorating on my face. It’s crazy that 2 hours ago it was 70 degrees and now it’s in the fifties. The sky is clear and there is a beautiful full moon right over the center of the park, I stop to take it in, wow, it’s beautiful. I think to myself why don’t I walk more, I mean come on, how lazy can one be. The park has a great walking trail that’s a ½ mile all the way around, I’ve clocked it with my pedometer, “walk, fat ass, walk.”
The houses in my neighborhood seem to resemble “cardboard cutouts.” There are about 5 different models that we had to choose from and the color selection was light tan, medium tan and darker tan, how boring? It made me happy a few years ago that one neighbor painted their house a totally different color. As I walk around the different streets tonight it makes me smile to see others have followed suit and put their own originality in their color selection. “We are not robots.”
I was under the illusion that the economy hadn’t hit my neighborhood but as I walk on some of the back streets I notice dark houses, dead lawns and notices posted on some doors and windows. I know that my state has the highest foreclosure rate in the country and I see this first hand, it saddens me.
I see the sun setting as I head west down one street and feel day and night collide, the full moon is directly behind me and the sunset directly in front of me. I can see the silhouette of the mountains in the background being illuminated by the moon, really quite beautiful. It sometimes feels like we live in a big crater with the mountains circling around the whole valley. I stop in the middle of the street and just stare at the moon and realize what a small speck we are in the scheme of things. We are just a planet floating around the universe and we are just little worker bees racing through life.
I continue walking and turn on my street and begin to head towards home. On the top of my street is a large mountain that I hear at one time was a volcano, it is a great back drop and wow, what a visual! I wave to my neighbor who is just getting home from work. My face and ears are so cold as I open the front door to my house that seems so “inviting” and “warm.” It’s amazing how much more awake and alive I feel since I left the house.
– I’m taking another writing class and walking around my neighborhood and describing it using all five senses was my first assignment, so here it is.
If I was the teacher in your writing class I’d give you an A on this one. Since I’ve been in your neighborhood I know what a great description this is. Makes me want to go for a walk there also!!!! Keep up the good work!
Betty
as I walk around my neighborhood every morning,I also am appreciative and grateful just to be grateful. I think being grateful creates happiness as does appreciating nature. Nice work.
claire
Thanks for the walk Sandy…felt like I was right there next to you.
Trisha
Sweet! Love that picture…where is that?
Lisa
This was an amazing post….the descriptions were brilliant, made me feel nice and sad all at the same time.
I agree with both Betty and caterpillar. I have been there, and I am visualizing all of the things that you mentioned, while at the same time, it was a sort of sad writing. But, all the same, one of your best! Love ya, Cindy
I also agree with everyone! Best work yet. Love ya too Aunt Bettie Lou
Sandy, that was great. I only wish I had been walking along side of you. How I miss my second home. Everything you talked about I could see and feel.
Good job writing this.
LoveYa, Mom
You are a storyteller! I loved the small details. You painted a picture in my mind, almost felt I was walking with you. Following you now.
Hey Sandy,
I really enjoyed your story, makes me want to get back into my walking to work routine. Keep up the great writing.
Tommy G