Today I took a break from packing and we walked to the library. My view of a walk alone to the library would be something like this - walk along the residential street, turn at the high school, the library is right next door. I may walk back another way along a more main road, turn right at the Catholic high school, cross the street and I'm home again.
Today T2 gave a running commentary as we walked. She knows the route very well and doesn't like us to deviate even though there are several ways we can walk there. As we strolled along with my bag of books to return on my shoulder and her carrying her "prettyful" unicorn she asked me if we would be going down the mountain before we got to the bend. The 'mountain' is a slight slope that I had never even noticed. As we approached the bend she wanted to check out the waterfall in one of the front yards, then we watched a Robin collecting worms, them we dodged some ants and a potato bug. We turned at the school and she wanted to confirm that we would go in the back door to the library, passed the ice rink that would be closed, past the place that smells of chocolate chip cookies and into the library. After choosing some books and a movie she wanted to have a break and sit on the bench by the curvy wall in the sun, not the shady one. We stopped at our usual spot (I hadn't even noticed that we always choose the same bench) for a drink and a granola bar. Then she needed to walk along the curvy wall, up another mountain and across the secret path (a path worn in the grass from people cutting the corner) and to the store and then to the trail where she wanted to find the big bump in the path (never did find it but she sure knew what she was looking for) to the bridge with no Troll under it, past the fallen down tree, the backyard with the new fence, then along the trail by the soccer field, across the street to collect the mail and home again. So many things that she had noticed or remembered from comments I had previously made as we strolled along. Things I no doubt would have overlooked were I walking alone, when my head would be filled with to-do lists or the nothingness that can sometimes be enjoyed when child free for a few minutes.
The walk takes longer with T2, my shoulder wouldn't ache so much were we to jump in the gas guzzling car and drive there but walking at her pace and seeing it through her eyes is worth way more.
1 comment:
Aw, I loved this and can totally relate! Our walk to the library involves pointing out every bus and truck along the way, the balloons on a nearby sign, the birds that like to hang out on the roof of the abandoned shop across the street, the banner with people playing basketball on it, etc. I often think about all of the opportunities for interaction we'd miss if we drove everywhere.
Lynn
http://infantbibliophile.blogspot.com
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