Power Walk

I went for a walk this evening and I usually have the neighborhood to myself. The other walkers walk in the morning because they don't work and have all the time in the world. I like having my little route to myself. I turn on my iPod and strut, prance or cha cha part of the way.

That's what normally happens.

Today my neighbor, who is really cute and petite and chatty and remembers me from middle school (I vaguely remember her from the buss), waved to me from across the street and I waved back, not knowing who it was, but wanting to be polite.

She met me half way as I was crossing the street and said, "Let's walk together."

I said, "I don't want to slow you down."

She replied, "No way. I am recovering from surgery and taking it slow."

I said, "OK," but groaned on the inside.

Turns out it wasn't so bad, and she talked the whole time and we were finished with our walk before I got to get a word in edgewise.

But I can't do it again. I missed listening to my music and dancing down the street. Yes, I probably look like a freak when I do that, but no one is really around to see me. Plus that has always been my time. My time to act silly and my time to walk off any huffiness I might be feeling.

This is terrible. I'm going to have to either buy a treadmill or start walking at 5 a.m.