Walking
My feet is my only carriage, so I’ve got to push on through. ~ Bob Marley
The following is a Sunday Scribblings prompt, scribbled in my notebook while sitting on the porch soaking up the last of the yesterday’s sun.
My hand is walking across the page. It gets more exercise than my legs these days. But I fantasize about long walks through deserts where my life depends on my ability to do it. I love stories about the slaves who walked these mountains on their way to freedom. The Lord of the Rings is a favorite, read out loud to my sons when they were young, that’s based almost entirely on walking.
I once wanted to walk the Camino, the 500 mile pilgrimage trail in Spain, after reading Shirley MacLaine’s book of the same name. I planned what I would carry, what shoes I would wear. I have a book on my shelf titled “Best Irish Walks,” and another called “Inn to Inn Walking.” But not only have I not gone on any of these walks, I haven’t read either book.
I’ll walk to pick apples or on any beach. I’ll walk for a good photo opportunity or up my long gravel driveway to get the mail. I used to take long walks when I lived in Massachusetts, but I was always bothered by guys driving by and yelling comments from their car windows, or pulling over to try and pick me up. Now older and in the country in Virginia, I tell my husband thank-you after he nudges me to take a walk with him and I do. I like to walk with my neighborhood girlfriends, but we only do it a few times a year, and when we do it’s more for talking than for walking.
I plan more walks than I actually take. On the other hand, (pun intended) my hand springs into action at the slightest writer’s prompt. So why isn’t my handwriting in better shape? My signature is an unreadable scrawl that looks like a doctor’s. Does my left hand feel left (pun intended) out of the writing workout? Do my legs?
I can’t help but think I should be walking right now instead of writing about walking is like.
Post Notes: In the spring I wrote THIS about walking, the New Year’s Resolution that I denied making.
December 1st, 2007 12:44 pm
don’t feel guilty… you are not alone…….
December 1st, 2007 12:46 pm
haha Good Point… If I only did ANYTHING as much as I do writing about it, my house would be cleaner I would be thinner and we might actually have clean pets! great take on the prompt Colleen!
December 1st, 2007 1:41 pm
I really enjoyed the different perspectives of ‘walk’ upon which you touched! Don’t feel alone when it comes to undecipherable handwriting… thank heavens for computers! 😉
December 1st, 2007 2:02 pm
I wish I could be out walking now but my knees and back have been bugging me and finally I broke down with the flu today. Yuck! It still looks fallish there and we have major snow! I’m cocooning today….sigh***
December 1st, 2007 3:56 pm
I have always found walking conducive to clearing my thoughts and coming up with writing ideas. As a lifelong non driver, I have done plenty of walking and writing in my day. I really enjoyed your post.
December 1st, 2007 5:16 pm
Colleen, Think most of us think more or write more about walking – than we actually walk. Last year went so far as to get one of those little gadgets that counts my steps or miles…think it has 3 miles on it…
Loved your take on the walking thing! I so enjoy your posts. 🙂
December 1st, 2007 6:57 pm
I’ve been walking every day for a year now. I can’t remember what it’s like not to walk. When I haven’t walked, my body actually gets impatient. Expectant. 🙂
I read Shirley’s book too about The Camino. Back then, I couldn’t have imagined walking it. Now, it would be fun. I hear she has a new book too.
~S
December 1st, 2007 10:11 pm
Walking…ah, yes…
I was doing pretty well when the sun rose early but my momentum seems to have stopped.
Well, maybe this Monday. 😉
December 1st, 2007 11:02 pm
Although I got here to read this scribble via Michele, I would come here, anyway.
Somehow our walking has reduced. We walk more with our hand. My right hand!
I promise myself each morning that I will walk the ridge this weekend. However I never get around it.
Here is to WALKING!!!
December 1st, 2007 11:25 pm
I always think better when I am walking. It is as though my legs in motion turn a cog which turns the gears that run my brain! In fact, sometimes when I am writing, I have to get up and pace around so I can think.
December 1st, 2007 11:41 pm
Me too! I think of my head as a snow globe of ideas that needs a good shake from time to time. I don’t have to walk but I have to get up and move around to dislodge the layers of dust that seem to settle with too much sitting.
December 2nd, 2007 1:58 am
Some nice perspectives on walking both on foot and by hand.
December 2nd, 2007 2:27 am
Great post, Colleen….It is strange about walking…I think about and actually wish I could walk more, nut my back is rappy and so I get into pain pretty quickly….!
December 2nd, 2007 8:14 am
I love walking and with my partner go for a nice walk most weekends.
December 2nd, 2007 11:08 am
I know what you mean. My handwriting and typing could be better for the amount of time I do it. A good mindful walk would be a good addition to the day. Liked yr walk thru the leaves. 🙂
December 2nd, 2007 11:36 am
I love long walks! It is one of the few times I can actually quiet my mind and just be grateful and free.
December 2nd, 2007 2:50 pm
I imagine myself walking more than I actually do, too! Nice post!
December 2nd, 2007 5:12 pm
If I walked as much as I sit in this chair and type, I would be in fantastic shape!!
December 2nd, 2007 6:51 pm
Oh yes, I also walk more on the page that outside! I must correct that … I must correct that … I must correct that! 🙂
December 2nd, 2007 7:36 pm
you are left handed, maybe that explains some things, or maybe not at all…
here from michele, loved the music review, above.
December 2nd, 2007 7:40 pm
I wondered if anyone would catch that. I’m not left handed but I put the pen in my left hand so I could hold the camera!
December 3rd, 2007 2:00 am
When I first saw the topic I had the same thoughts. I love the idea of walking and have many places to walk… but my fingers get much more exercise also. Now it is cold and snowy and walking may be out of the question! Back to exercising my fingers.