Perseverance

Perseverance

by Audrey L. Morehead

July 1, 2010

Seasons that change, transform, rearrange

Like snakes shed their skins

Growth expands from within

Time arrives to burst forth from the shell

As butterflies emerge

From instinctual urge

Long silences, stillness of nothing by "wait"

Simultaneously burden

Adding physical weight

Glimmers of hope emerge from the Cross

Baby steps to take

Much more is at stake

Now walking daily to reach a new goal

Discouragement hovers

Like tentative new lovers

Growth's evidence is slow

Am I making progress?

Like grapes in a press

The first steps are grueling

A big messy mash

Fruity juice trash

Faith is my friend and daily it joins

Though road blocks despair

Perseverance shouts a loud blare!

Coolish warm air

greeted me this morning as I left home for my walk at exactly 6:30am. It was around 76 degrees and no more than 50% humidity--a pleasant improvement from the last two weeks! I was still measurably sleepy, but that was less noticeable the more I walked thankfully. For the most part the trek to the trail was uneventful, other than greeting the same couple I have on several occasions at nearly the same location as they were on their way home from the track.

Many walkers

traversed the fitness trail this morning, since I arrived at 6:45am--also a better time for me from the house. I was determined to stop and stretch more frequently, too. Regardless, it wasn't long before my left shin started exuding its typical achy-pain. In fact, the rest of my aches and pains have nearly worked themselves out so I have very few of them elsewhere. But THAT left shin...UGH!

A few views

stood out to me today as I walked the trail three loops. First was the lady who met me walking opposite me and all the other walkers--like the lady the previous time. Second was the mother and son pair out playing in the rocks together. I admired the mother who was willing to get out so early with her son, to get down on his level on the ground, and to get dirty with him so that he could have valuable play time with her--what a treasure for a mother! Third was the early soccer practice by two fit young men who are probably from outside the U.S. I've seen them before with are large number of others with them, but today there were only two of them.

A new companion

joined me as i approached the final side of my last leg on the part parallel with Maple and across from the DSU Physical Plant--a beautiful honey-golden mid-size dog! She would turn out to be my walking companion for the entire walk back home. And she would have stayed (and I would have welcomed her) had Freedom not gone into "attack-cat" mode! WOW! Did he go ballistic! I was trying to run interference, but did a poor job "rescuing" that poor dog from my crazy cat who is normally so shy and "scaredy"! Eventually, "Honeybelle," as I had named her, decided to leave looking longingly back to me with her sad eyes--I could hardly stand it! If I had a dog, I would have enjoyed HER!

Oh well...

My walk was over and my busy day was about to ensue...alignment for tires, pick up laundry from DSU, get gas, and possibly a couple of other things. I must accomplish all these BEFORE I return home for our refrigerator repair tech to arrive from 1:00-5:00PM this afternoon!

Whew! That's a FULL day for a turtle!

Tootles,

Turtle Girl