Jewells of Thought

Mom and I enjoy walking. Thankfully we have gotten back up to a half an hour routine. Of course we do walk in the local cemetery. I have mentioned before it is where a lot of family and friends stones are standing tall.

The reason we walk there is because it’s really just a nice place to walk. We try to walk early during the summer months and early afternoon during the winter months when conditions are good. Plus Mom’s great-great Grandpa I may need another great I am not certain even though I used to know.He made gravestones and specifically made little lambs that are on some of the older ones if it was a child that had died. It’s neat to know I had a relative that had a talent of making these intricate gravestones. I remember when Grandma and Grandpa used to take us and show us exactly the ones he made it seems like forever ago.

Now though I have those sweet memories when I walk through the cemetery with Mom and sometimes with my niece. During the Covid time in this country this cemetery was a walker’s paradise. Everyone was here walking at all times it seemed like. I remember counting at least two other people at the same time we were. Plus there were some on the other side of the cemetery across the highway. We didn’t have any family over there and until recently no friends over there. Now one of my Mom’s classmate’s graves is over there and we found out today one of our cousin’s classmates is also on that side.

Anyhow just within the last couple of weeks we have been trying to go up to 30 minutes. We decided to go over to the other side a little bit, even though it means crossing the highway. It adds no more than 5 minutes give or take but it does give us a beautiful scene from across the main entrance. It’s a new perspective and it adds a new aspect to our walk a second depending on which way we are walking a downgrade or upgrade that helps us work our muscles.

One day I decided to do a double take and walk it twice before heading back over the highway. It was also on one of those hot mornings. We try to start early, but I have felt like I have sweated off nearly 5 pounds off a few days in a row and that was even before 8 am.

Yesterday, however, the first time since we started using the other side something happened we hadn’t expected. As soon as we got there less than a minute of walking somehow we thought we would start out heading over there first. Well, we got over there and were not quite even halfway to the tree and I remember just half heartedly noticing that a car was at the house and the garage door opened. None of that was any of my business, but all of a sudden what did gain my attention was what came out of that garage.

Somehow I managed to stay calm, but my goodness hearing that sound did unnerve me. Once we heard the dog and the barking Mom was absolutely beside herself. We instantly began turning around when we realized the dog was headed for us. Honestly I don’t know if it was a Rottweiler or a Dobermann. It was fast and it was loud that was all we were thinking about. As soon as we got past the highway we seemed to be safe. Still it occurred to me nothing like this has happened since during Covid. I remember when we had dogs on the other side coming after us a time or two. Thankfully that has not happened as much at all except maybe once earlier this year, but nothing like the dog running after us.

So this morning, we decided not to even go to the other side. It may be a little while before we explore that option again. I just know I can’t run and not with my ankle. That is why I walk for exercise and this pavement is better than the rock on our back road. Especially after my tears and cyst, we used to walk for an hour on those roads now I am fortunate to make it a half hour at a cemetery. Although last year we did get to 40 minutes we are hoping to increase it again soon, but in 5 minute increments. I do miss those hour long walks though, out in the countryside. Not as much shade though and every once in a while there were stray dogs inviting themselves on our walks.

This is one side of my Great-Grandma’s grave. It’s from her side of the family that her Father or Grandfather who worked on gravestones was the Patriarch of the family at one time.