checking in - a walk around the lake

I woke up quite early this morning and drove out to a nearby lake and took what I considered a brisk paced walk around it's 2.5 mile circumference. It was one of those perfect mornings, around 70 degrees and very calm. Birds, ducks, frogs, water and trees. So nice. I say "a brisk pace" yet I was passed by several joggers and two women walking...I can't figure out how some people walk so fast. They weren't "power walking," they were simply walking and talking with no apparent effort and they passed me like I was standing still. As soon as they passed, I tried to match their pace by watching and walking in sync with their steps... it couldn't be done... It's a mystery to me how some humans can walk so fast and it seems so natural.

Here are two ideas that I am considering for the next twelve months:

1. Arrange a slow race ...called a "mindful mile." There will be no winner, the race is an un-race....the goal of which is to walk VERY slowly, silently and mindfully for one mile. Everyone who enters gets a very, very cool mindful mile T-shirt, and the entrance fees (after the cost of the T-shirts) go to charity (perhaps a children's cancer charity?). I'll have to find someone to design a very cool to die for t-shirt.

2. Celebrate 12 birthdays in the next year...just a thought...I was too miserable to celebrate my birthday last year in November, and who knows how many trips around the sun I have left. Why be stingy? Since my birthday is on the 5th of the month and since July marks one year since my diagnosis, I am thinking of beginning in July. On second thought... July 5th is already a holiday as the 4th falls on a Sunday. No point doubling up on a holiday. I will start in August. I will take the 5th of every month off from work, and plan some birthday adventure. How much fun is that??? Oh, I will love it. Give me one good reason why not? I will so look forward to my adventures. The only thing in common will be that each monthly birthday will include one large piece of cake (or pie) to celebrate. Some adventures might be alone (I am thinking one adventure would be to spend one full day from sunrise to sunset at a Monastery in silent reflection) some might be with Kathy, some might be with whoever cares to join in... mmm...another adventure could involve driving early morning to Kansas City for a great BBQ lunch/dinner, followed by a walk through some neat neighborhood and birthday cake at some KC bakery and driving back to Lincoln at night. And...I'd like to have a birthday adventure serving others in some meaningful capacity that is totally new for me. And a birthday adventure where I learn something completely new, like a private lesson by an expert in calligraphy or playing an Indian flute, or origami, and then spend the rest of the day practicing. This idea to plan a birthday adventure on the 5th of every month occurred to me around 11PM last evening and I had the most difficult time getting to sleep because I kept thinking about different adventures I could plan. Some were wild and crazy and dangerous, so I best slow down and reflect a little before commenting any more. Otherwise, I might regret my words...I can just see myself standing down at the railyard trying to hop a freight train and cursing myself for ever having this adventure idea...

And finally...a quote for the day...

"Sometimes the truth depends upon a walk around the lake."
Wallace Stevens

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...can't you see the sunrise on the water?