Most weekday mornings, for the past two years, I have an early morning hike in Trexler Nature Preserve. I love it there, just after sunrise. You can see more animals at that time. There is often a mist on Jordan Creek. The air is usually crisper and cleaner at that time of day. I love the solitude. But I am not entirely alone. There are a few others who also appreciate TNP in the early morning awakening.
I call them the regulars. There is the older couple, who seem to just meander the trail, not looking for speed or personal records. There is the man who meditates on the banks of the creek, sitting in his lotus position. There is the guy about my age, doing the same thing I am doing, fighting off old age and atrophy! Lastly, there is the skinny blond fortyish fast walking woman who walks back and forth over the same half mile of trail, doing five miles a day. Faithfully.
Here is the mystery. She’s gone. It’s been three weeks and I haven’t seen her. During the first week, I thought she must be on vacation. I thought the same for the second week, but when it entered the third week, I began to really wonder what happened to her. I’ll admit that I started to worry. I don’t even know the woman. We would chat briefly when we would pass each other on the trail. Usually we spoke of the weather. She couldn’t believe how long past summer I wear shorts. Adding to the mystery, the last Friday morning that I saw her, she said to me “See you tomorrow”.
Unless she returns I will never know what happened to her. Did she move away? Is she in the hospital? Is she recovering from an injury? Is she dead? Come on, you know you thought that too.
This got me thinking about my life in its entirety. I know I’ve written about it before, how people move in and out of our lives, important priorities one year and years later just a fleeting memory. It’s sad really and yet it fascinates me. I often think of kids I went to school with, or colleagues at work, or women I used to love or who once loved me. Every one of those people had some effect on me and who I am today, even if I haven’t seen them for decades. Relationships are so important.
To me, the skinny blond fast walker had this effect. She was a certainty. She would be on the trail, no matter the weather. She was a smile. She was a kind comment. She was a “see you tomorrow”. But will I see her tomorrow? It is looking less likely. Tomorrow starts week four.
And all of the people who have been in my life, wherever they are, I hope they are well and happy. I thank them for showing up.
A Semi-retired Kind of Life 