6.35 Miles

When I stress, I walk. Today I walked over six miles. Never mind Friday's vasectomy. It's either walk or who knows what. The reason for my stress? I misplaced approximately twenty bucks or so. Sure, there's probably more going on subconsciously, but it pissed me off that in my home, one that I de-cluttered to the best of my ability yesterday, but one with two kids who like to make a mess of things always in record time, I couldn't find the cash I had earmarked as payment to the library for a lost library book. It made me mad.

Anyway, I got out of the apartment and walked to the library. I turned in books that were due and picked up a couple of DVDs (Modern Times and 'Round Midnight). Not content to return home, where my low wage existence bugs me and I just feel like a bum relaxing on the couch, I exited the library and turned right. With backpack and iPod, I walked alongside Central Pike, careful of cars on one side and the ditch on the other as Delibes' "Lakmé" did it's best to soothe me of my concerns. I later hit Lebanon Pike and turned left toward town. They're working on the bridge that crosses the river and I had the equivalent of four lanes not yet ready for cars all to myself. When you are a pedestrian restricted to small shoulders and always feel just one unobservant driver away from serious bodily harm, all of this free and safe space is quite welcome. Just across the bridge was a Target store. I stopped in, bought some Sprites for my pregnant and nauseous wife, put them into my backpack and exited the store.

The Stones River Greenway is a stone's throw from the Target store and even though its winding path would take me longer to get home, I chose it's car-free and peaceful way. It's the first time I had traveled the Greenway from one end all the way to the other and I liked it a lot. Many bikers and runners were there tonight and I appreciated the passing company of folks like me, taking time out of the day to move around without the benefit of automobiles.

Finally, I reached the foot of the Percy Priest Dam and walked the steep, grassy hill to its right. I'm not in great shape and it took a lot out of me, but as climbers know, there's something quite awesome about the view after reaching the top. Looking down at my accomplishment, gazing across and watching the water run underneath the I-40 bridge, seeing the sunset beyond the bridge, trees, and hills, I smiled. Maybe my first true smile in a few days.

Returning home not long after, I was quick to map out my walk online. Roughly figured, I had walked 6.35 miles. So much for listening to my doctor and staying on the couch all weekend, but a restless man with a worried mind has to move around a bit.

It did me good. Thanks for reading.