No ice, no snow – just bare, dry pavement with the sun pouring down! So there was no excuse to avoid walking the 12 (and a bit) kilometres I’ve been promising myself since the beginning of March. (I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but I haven’t walked that distance since the half marathon in September.)
My first 6 kilometres were walked in the company of some of the 17 women who turned up today. As always, I marvelled at the great company I was in. These women have become my confidants, my cheer-leaders, my story-tellers, my advisors, my friends.
My second loop was on my own (I’m one of the slowest members these days.) I found myself dawdling a bit. When engrossed in conversation, I don’t always notice the beauty around me. On my own, I heard and saw the city birds: blue jays, cardinals, robins, woodpeckers, doves (okay, maybe they were pigeons, but they were cooing.) I even think I saw a wood-pewee, but am not sure. I admired the sweet yellow crocuses spilling down the hill by the Thomson family memorial.
I also remarked on the tombstones. The Scots and English names on the older stones and monuments were ones well-known in business and industry. But as I walked closer to Mount Pleasant, I recognized the nation-builders who came to the city later and made us the wonderful, cosmopolitan place we are. Among the eastern Europeans, Steve Stavro’s awe-inspiring Masonic memorial always reminds me of a huge statue of charioteers I saw at a cross-roads in Bali. The many Asian graves were being visited by large family groups as I passed that section.
When I finished the second loop, I found Helen and Rorie still engaged in conversation at the Yonge Street gates. Helen and I headed for the subway together and I felt I’d accomplished my mission. Maybe next time, I’ll work on a bit more speed.