A glorious summer morning in my old hometown today helped me decide that I ought to accompany my husband on his early morning walk-about. The air is crisp and fresh and the sunshine warm. A definite change from the intense summer heat and humidity of home (Bermuda…for 40 plus years) And I must point out that to agree to exercise with our two dogs is a smart move on my part. While I am still waking up, they are anxious to stop and leave their yellow-watery mark every few feet. I indulge them until it is apparent that they are soon shooting “dry”. And so, in a renewed sense of “I gotta walk these extra pounds off”, I pull them along and make an attempt to begin to sweat a little. As I pass a shop window downtown, I glance at my reflection. The pride I was about to experience was short-lived when I was shocked into exclamation: “RAY! Why didn’t you tell me my butt was getting so big????!!!!” SILENCE……I looked back and saw a look of terror cross his face. SILENCE. Finally I saved him by saying, “I get it….no answer could ever be the right answer!” ha ha ha Poor dear ole Ray!

The best part of our walk was near the end. We stopped at an outdoor cafe for orange juice (ok ok AND a blueberry muffin!!! cheech!) and several people came up to us to admire our cute little dogs. (Ben and Jerry are such show stoppers) and it turns out that one lady’s brother was my brother David’s best friend growing up. George Naugle. Then a Don Mac Neil came over and he played Baseball with several of my brothers. He said that though my brother Don was a lot younger, he would never forget what a terrific athelete he was. KUDOS David, and Don. (you better be reading this guys! 🙂 )

It’s fun meeting up with old friends and it’s terrific making new ones too. Here in the campground, people just stop by to say hello and ask where we are from etc. One such couple stopped by last night and we discovered we just may be related. Fun fun fun……

Are you taking advantage of good weather to do your own sort of walk-abouts? It does not have to be your old hometown, but just wherever you are. Take a few moments and really study the people around you. Whether it be at a local coffee shop, or waiting in line at the post office…..stop, chat and make friendly. You may be pleasantly surprised…..

Antigonish in the early 1960's