Remembering those walks

 The other day, I was sitting out on Lois' porch for our porch time which we try to do several times a week.  It was a beautiful spring day and very relaxing.  At some point, a woman and her two grandchildren came walking down the street.  They were holding hands and having a good time.  We all waved to each other and Squirt, of course, had to bark.  They were people, after all, and he just could not resist the urge to make his presence known.  They disappeared down the street and came back around the corner a little while later.  It looked like they had been to the grocery store around the corner.  They were not holding hands now because the kids hands were occupied with candy and drinks.  But they were all still smiles and having a grand time.  Again, we all waved and Squirt barked.  It was a nice exchange.

It brought back some wonderful memories from 40 plus years ago.  Walking around the neighborhood with Grandmother.  On warm spring nights, she would sometimes like to just get outside and go for a walk.  We would hold hands for both comfort and safety.  Because we lived on a dead end street, our route was shaped like the letter "p".  And there were always people out either walking as well or out in their yards.  And Grandmother always knew people we would come across in our walks.  Usually it was a church member or a bridge club member.  If Jim Reich, our minister of music, was out in his yard we would always stop for a chat.  I remember he always wore a white hat when he was outside.  Little did I know at the time he was bald as a cue ball.....he always wore a toupee at church!

Sometimes our duo would grow as we walked.  Being that there were lots of kids on our street, sometimes Amy or Alissa or Blair would join us, always with their parents' permission.  Grandmother loved those girls and they were always welcomed with open arms.  Sometimes we'd spend the walk singing the entire time.  Those were my favorites.  I don't really remember those songs from childhood, but I do remember that singing together was a favorite activity for me and Grandmother then.  It was always a fun time for sharing and being together.  

Some days we would take the long way around the block, which just meant that the "p" was about half a mile longer.  Or we would veer off of our course and go down to Virginia Smith's house to see her amazing gardens....there were paths and even a bridge there, fun adventures for kids!  But when the sun began to set on these beautiful spring days, it was time to head back home.  Still singing, still holding hands but homeward bound.  And the comfort of home was always waiting for us at the end of these walks.  I hope that the trio that Lois and I saw walking were having as grand a time as I used to have.  And I hope that they created memories to last them a lifetime from this simple pleasure life has given them.  Oh, what I wouldn't give for one more walk around the block with Grandmother.

That is all.