I'm Walkin', Yes Indeed, I'm Walkin'

I've been walking the two miles to work and back since January. I was inspired by the simultaneous desire to use less fuel and get more exercise. Also, my daughter's car died, so now she and I are sharing a car.

It took me awhile to build up the stamina required to get to work without being totally exhausted, but now I get there sweaty, but slightly exhilarated. When I come home, I usually have so much end-of-the-workday adrenalin that I don't even really feel it.

This routine is very hard on the legs and feet, so now I have a wardrobe of different kinds of athletic shoes. My black Sketchers are now the closest shoes I have to normal-looking work footwear. The Ponys at the top of the post are by far the most comfortable, but least versatile shoes I'm now wearing. I find myself picking clothes to wear to work based on my shoe choice for the day.

The scenery on these walks has been especially beautiful since the signs of spring have been showing themselves.
The flowering trees are in bloom, and gardens are full of daffodils, crocuses, and last week I saw hyacinths.




I live at the edge of town, in a neighborhood surrounded by cow pastures dotted with lovely old barns. I love this vista through a church parking lot.


I have some late days when I don't go into the office until noon, and so I reach this creek just as the sun overhead is reflected in the water. These are all things I would never see in the same way from the vantage point of the car.

Recently, I got to class and one of my students, eyeing my shoes, said, "Nice kicks, Professor." I have become a middle aged lady in tennis shoes. It's actually not a bad thing to be at all.