This Morning Walk Thing

Since retiring from the county I have established at least one good habit.  Well, at least my little doggies think so.  Every morning after we have had some breakfast and coffee (for me, the kids don't care for coffee) the three of us set out for our morning constitutional.  

I have a leash that attaches to a toggle that hooks onto each of their collars.  It is one of the better inventions for people who have more than one dog.  I used to have a three-dog toggle, but not sure what happened to that, so until I find it, I can only have two dogs.  (Thank goodness).

Anyway, we don't always get out the door at the same time every day.  No use getting into a rut or fixed routine.  Tater and Ching Ching need to remain flexible and they do.  Of course they wait patiently but expectantly as I do whatever it is that delays me getting on with it.  They are quite good that way.  But when I finally pick up the leash....zoom!

So every morning is a slightly different experience from the days before.  Like this morning, we started to turn right onto to Elizabeth at the end of my street.  Ching would have of that.  His mind was set on turning left and heading over to the Plaza.  Not sure why he likes to go that way, but I usually cave in.

This morning we encountered a freight train approaching the Riverside Ave crossing.  We stopped, thinking we would have the usual long wait, but this train was going very fast and was pulling only a few cars behind the locomotive, a rare sight indeed.  We were back underway lickety split.

Next we encountered the same broken sprinkler by Marie Callendar's that has been spewing water for three days now.  I know they know about it because someone placed an orange cone by the source of the leak.  We of course had to check it out and taste the water.  And the little patch of grass between the sidewalk and the street is one of Ching's favorite places to take care of business.  Yes, I always have my plastic bag ready.  I take it off the morning paper.  At least it makes the bag serve a useful purpose everyday.

We continued on this morning to the corner of Riverside and Merrill where as we were waiting for the signal to change, I woman came rushing up to tell us, "There is a big white pitbull running loose down there.  I thought you might like to know."  Of course I did want to know.  We changed course and where down Merrill rather than to the Riverside Avenue entrance to the Plaza.  A different prospective never hurts.

We got to the south end of the plaza and I decided we needed to sit on our bench by El Torito and the fountain.  We hadn't done this in a while.  The dogs relax and I think deep thoughts, play with my cell phone and go "into the zone". We only there a few minutes when, you guessed it, the big white dog showed up.  He was HUGE!  The security guard was in hot pursuit.  I tightened my grip on the leash and Tater bristled, but did not bark.  Fortunately, the guard caught the dog and led him away after shooting me a re-assuring look.  

Crisis averted, we got up and went on home.  

Some times on these walks we encounter homeless folks, friendly and unfriendly people walking their friendly and unfriendly dogs, workers going to work who sometimes have time to make a fuss over the kids.  There is one woman who averts her eyes and crosses the street so as not to encounter the dogs (or maybe me?).  During the school year there is always lots of traffic near Pachappa Elementary.  It is remarkable that every single kid is accompanied by a parent these days.  Probably because of the busy streets, but also I am afraid because there are so many crazies out there.  The world has changed so much since I was walking to school...alone...and meandering along the way.

So this morning walk is something we all look forward to every day.  Even though we go basically the same way each day, for the dogs it is great fun.  They just love to GO!  And it is good for me too I know.  It wakes us up and starts our day just right.  This morning walk thing and sometimes this evening walk thing, is just about as good as life gets.  

"Yep, dad, this walking business just makes us so happy!"