It rained the night before last, enough rain that not only did I not have to water yesterday, it was too muddy to work in the yard.
So I went for a walk. It felt good being out and about despite the heat and humidity, though I actually did more visiting during that hour than walking. First, I chatted with a neighbor who was thrilled with the almost two inches of rain, and then we moved onto other topics, such as theft. Solar garden lights are disappearing around town. Both of mine outside the fence went first, then someone came into my fenced yard and took one of my expensive solar lights, so I put the remaining light in the garage, where it will be safe. Useless, but safe.
Apparently, kids are stealing them to use as nightlights on their bicycles. Even if they were caught, no one would do anything about it. The sheriff, of course, couldn’t care, and the new local police force . . . actually, I don’t know anything about them other than that this town decided not to rely on the county anymore. And that they have brand new vehicles. I guess I should count myself lucky I have no information about them — it means I have no need of their services.
I continued my walk, and on the way back, as I paused to look at a tiny rosebush, a woman came rushing out of her house and said, “I’m so glad to see you’re okay.” I’d been introduced to the woman once, and had never spoken another word with her, but apparently, she’d noticed I hadn’t been out walking for a while. She mentioned that another woman, one I’m not sure I’ve ever even seen, had also been asking about me. It’s nice to know people notice and care, but the truth is, by the time they realized I was missing, my corpse could have been moldering in my house for months. But still, it is nice. And weird, too, in a way.
It’s funny — every time I go walking, I realize how much I miss it, but then something happens, like the ground drying out and my needing to do yardwork as it did today, and I never get a chance to get back in the swing of daily walking. But maybe. Someday. When it’s not hot. Or windy. Or cold. Or snowy.
Oh, who and I trying to kid. There’s always an excuse. But yesterday, I did take a walk, and it was nice.
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Pat Bertram is the author of Grief: The Inside Story – A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One
Bertram's Blog 
July 12, 2026 at 8:15 am
I am forced to walk my dog at least 2 times a day but usually it is 3-4 and it doesnt matter if it is hot, wet, dry, cold whatever, I get to walk. It just helps the joints to keep them moving.. I am sure you keep moving with all the gardening but I only have the 13 trees and that is sooooo boring. Have a great walk today. Can’t work on the Sabbath any way.
July 12, 2026 at 9:58 am
Yes, plenty of joint work with gardening. Come fall, I’m hoping I don’t have as much yard work and that it will be cooler (not guaranteed out here), so I can get back into daily walking.