Santhan and Uncle Arnand just give as they give and do as they do and don’t think anything of it. They are surprised when someone, like me, says what they’ve said or done is so wonderful. It is not remarkable to them It’s where they are..

They seem to care for everyone as if they were their father or big brother meant to take care of them. Young or old, it’s no difference to them.

What is it they do? They are always thinking of something thoughtful, generous, kind, and to them it is natural to do so and not noteworthy at all.

I suppose it feels to them the same as if I had said to them: How wonderful it is how you have legs to walk with!

They see their generosity as something taken for granted. They don’t even see it as generosity. It’s just what they want to do.

Actually, talking about legs and walking, I do have to say that Santhan and Uncle Arnand walk wonderfully! They walk with grace. Uncle Arnand walks purposefully. He knows where he’s going and gets there, and, yet, he is not racing.

Santhan’s walk is not a stride but how shall I describe it. I cannot. He doesn’t walk like a lion and yet… His walk is more of a gait than a stride. His walk is agile, lovely, filled with grace. I love the way these two gentlemen walk.

I have noticed that everyone in South Africa seems to walk beautifully. Maybe the people in South Africa are more at home in their bodies, and, therefore, there is an eloquence and naturalness. Or maybe they are at home in the world and have made peace with life, and so their walk is beautiful.

Here are Jacqueline and I walking on another trail. I am so grateful to Jacqueline, for she gets me out to walk. (more…)

Sara Gruen, the author of Water for Elephants, Riding Lessons, Flying Changes, and Ape House, knows how to tell a story. She knows how to create characters, imperfect though they may be.

I’ve read all of of her novels, and each is spellbinding. I cannot tell you what her secret is, (more…)

Why do so many rambling thoughts pop into my head? Why do they come?  And why do they come when they come? Why those particular thoughts at that particular moment? All kinds of thoughts. Bittersweet thoughts.  Fulsome thoughts.  Painful thoughts. Joyful thoughts. And, of course, there are thoughts in between the thoughts! (more…)

There is a local slick-paper promotional magazine, Outrunning Diabetes,  recently published locally that talks about fitness and diet  and features local Jefferson County Resources such as the Pleasant Lake area where Jacqueline, my walking buddy, and I often walk. Actually, if I had to choose a favorite walking trail, this is the one I would choose.  (more…)

Food is always inspiring! Above are apricots that Heaven Admin picked and dried on the solar dehydrator he made.

Note the textures in this apricot photo above. Note the orange of the apricots, the purple of the screen, the green of the wood.  Note all the different textures including the ground. Stunning. (more…)

For two hours on a Sunday afternoon, Fairfield Park and Recreation had an open house, and anyone could go there and swim in a non-chlorinated pool or go on any of the equipment free. In my case, Jacqueline took me around, gave me individual attention, showed me how to do spinning on a bike, lift weights etc.

What I most liked was a solitary new piece of equipment they have. It’s sort of like a punching bag, and it is also like a kicking bag. (more…)

Heaven Admin spent hours and hours with me to make sure I knew what I was doing when I rode Mikey D. uphill and downhill, on city streets, in traffic, in less traffic, on bumpy roads and smooth roads. I could hardly believe it, the time he spent. Two whole afternoons he spent riding ahead of me or behind me or beside me. He didn’t take my safety lightly. (more…)

Keep reading to see explanation for photo above! (more…)

I am in love with balance balls.  Now when I’m at the computer, which is almost always, I sit on a balance ball. (more…)