Wordless Friday

New encounters

87 degrees, sunny with some breeze. Mrs. Abstract kisses me goodbye. She is going to play Mexican Train with her friends from the Women’s Guild. I have a good reason to stay home and read.

Athletes subject themselves to “rigorous and exhausting discipline, giving up many comforts and pleasures.The contemplatives, (or monks) also submit themselves also to rigorous regimen.

When I consider the disciplines of the athletes and monks and compare them to myself I’m a small pebble in comparison. Their stories are distant but not too far away from me.

I pick my staff, and my cap and go out the house and start walking towards the river.

A man, paraplegic, sitting on a wheelchair under a shade of a tree near the river, greets me with smile. He is enjoying the breeze. After a short conversation, we part after wishing each other a good day.

While standing on the river bank I see a sail boat with two riders coming to the inlet. I wave to them and the man greets me. I greet him back and wish the two riders a good day.

Returning from the river I meet a gentleman wearing a yellow cap and sitting on a bench. We start talking. I am 93, he says when I ask him how old he is.

Returning home I see a man and his dog walking from the opposite end of the walkway.We exchange pleasantries. He introduces his dog as a cockerpood. He says it’s a breed between a cocker spaniel and a poodle. She is a quiet dog, hardly barks her master says.

My cell phone says 4 miles and 9,000 steps. It may not be accurate..

The meaning of reality is how one faces reality.

first things

Every journey begins with the first step
Or the first mistake
That’s not their vacation’s first day
But a day in the water, kayaking
They have never done it before
Like Icarus flying with man-made wings
Excitement hums, quiver of holding
The quill, the first words written
The power of the first decision
First acts of youth, memories are written.

They are in the water with others
all listening to the tour guide
history of the river, fauna and flora of the place,
prepare and be aware of dangers
mirth and fun and a mix of caution
What a day and days to come
They can be optimists.

choices

Saturday, blue skies and sunny
What will you do with your friends?
Stroll in the farmer’s market,
or bicycle on the Vine Trail,
but with your best friend-
paddle board on the river.

Walking back to fitness

note: Instead of walking to the river from the condo I did something slightly different today.

Mrs. Abstract and I drove to Synergy, the Wellness Center next to the hospital, While she was doing her aquatic exercises I walked to the Woodlands Trail, 1.2 miles paved trail, which runs along Napa River. It took me 15 minutes to get to the trailhead. I am a slow walker.The temperature was in the high 60’s with a cool breeze. The trail is lined by trees and really a forest between the trail and Napa River. Lot of shadows on the trail with some patches in open air and all sunny.

I Walked the trail then walked back to Synergy. I worked out for 45 minutes then returned home.

I have to gain back my cardiac fitness. Last time I saw my physician, he told me I was getting lazy. I was not doing enough of my fitness program. Remember I had my cardiac surgery January 2017.

A friend picked up Mrs. Abstract after her aquatics and they went to lunch.

the strength of four

note: Napa River at the Napa Riverfront