Saturday, July 17, 2010

At Seven O' Clock Take a Walk

At Seven O’ Clock Take a Walk

Part I

7:00 p.m. is the perfect time to take a walk. I don’t mean a power walk, with pedometers and ankle weights and athletic shoes. I mean a slow, steamy stroll down the street in old flip-flops. I mean a leisurely, puddly meander up the avenue in rubber boots. I mean a clumsy, cold trudge through the park in oversize Sorels. I mean exploring the neighbourhood with your partner. Holding hands. Grabbing the dog, too. Grasping the leash. Taking a sip of water now and then. Seeing the sights of your home, your city, heck, your whole province! Walking is the most intimate way to learn about your world; the one that you whiz by each day as you carry out the business of life. Walking slows you down and gives you time for the intricate details of life and living.

What have I seen on evening walks in my rural neighbourhood? Snapping turtles mating. (Ouch!) A three legged painted turtle that my kids affectionately called Stumpy. Four baby beavers playfully swimming in circles and squealing. A dead coyote. A stolen burnt car. Wild plums. Wild roses. Foxtails. Cattails. A mallard duck stranded in the ice. Baby wood ducks being pushed from the nest for the first time. Bear poop. Dragonflies. Damselflies. A snowy owl in a tree during a full moon. Northern lights. Shooting stars. A stray cat at the top of a tree with my dog sitting patiently at the base. My neighbours swimming in their pond. A farmer combining. A flax field burning. (Spectacular!) My children posing goofily on giant round bales. Mouse tracks in the snow. Deer tracks in the mud. Life in Manitoba. A little bit of living at seven o’ clock.

Part II

At 7:00, take a walk with the one you love. Here are a few tunes to inspire you:

Walkin’ After Midnight – Patsy Cline
These Boots are made for Walkin’ – Nancy Sinatra (not Jessica Simpson!!)
Walk This Way – Aerosmith
Walk on By – Dionne Worwick
Walk Away – Franz Ferdinand
Takin’ a Walk – John Prine
Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
Walk – Pantera
I Walk a Fiery Line – The Farrell Brothers
My Walkin’ Shoes – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Walk, Idiot, Walk – The Hives
Sidewalk When She Walks – Alexisonfire
The Blues Walk – Lyle Lovett
Walking Contradiction – Green Day
Walk On – John Hiatt
Walking in the Woods – The Pursuit of Happiness
Walkin’ Blues – Eric Clapton
Walking in the Fire – Resistance
Spiritwalker – The Cult
Walk of Life – Dire Straits
Walkin’ on the Sun – Smashmouth
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
Walking Away – Jonny Lang
If I was Your Woman/Walk on By – Alecia Keys
Walkin’ All Night – Little Feat
Don’t Walk Away Eileen – Sam Roberts
Walkin’ with a Mountain – Mott the Hoople
Walking on the Moon – The Police
Walk Right In – The Rooftop Singers
Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed (the ultimate classic!)



Part III

Over the days, months, weeks and years, enjoy walking through life together. Slowly. Holding hands. With lots of love.

September 2006

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