Daylight Savings Time

Part 1 -

I figured I would get up earlier today to get started so I could miss the majority of the cyclists on the trail. I forgot that with the change to Daylight Savings Time last weekend, it would still be dark at 7:00 am. It was finally light enough for me to be comfortable on the trail at 7:20. On top of everything, it was very overcast today and the sun didn't ever come out from behind the clouds. I could have slept a lot longer.

Getting out earlier gave me a new perspective. The wildlife hadn't pulled back to avoid the people. I saw a bunny right next to the path, several squirrels on the path and a lot of birds that aren't usually visible - woodpecker, mocking bird and something smaller that a sparrow that I couldn't identify (I may need to get a book). I think I heard a goose in some distress, but I didn't see it.

The plants are all reacting to the warmer weather. The red bud trees are all in bloom. I saw one today that has a really dark purple bloom. I've never seen one with a color that strong. There are a bunch of trees with multiple white flowers. I don't know what they are, but they look like the blooms from fruit trees. The clover flowers were in bud. I think if the sun had come out, they would have opened. The yellow weeds are still out in full bloom. There is the promise of lots of bluebonnets (the Texas state flower) nearly ready to open. If the weather stays warm, they could be out in force next weekend. I even saw one - just one - Indian paintbrush with a bud. Those don't generally open until we've had several weeks of really warm weather. The tree pollen, that has been hitting those of us with total misery for the last two weeks, is clearly visible. It looked like yellow chalk lines on the path. The pollen had settled around the areas where the rain during the week puddled. When the water evaporated it left the pollen to blow in the wind. Luckily, I took my Claritin-D last night before I went to bed and wasn't terribly effected today. If my luck holds I won't feel it tomorrow either. Think good thoughts for me.

Today I was very aware of being "in the middle." I saw a number of folks who were in their late 60's and 70's. I applaud their commitment to staying healthy and their ability to walk the distance. I saw quite a few in their late 20's and 30's. They were all very intense - like it was some kind of contest. I think most of them will get over that when they hit their 40's. There will be a few that treat their entire lives like a contest. I'm so glad I'm not one of them. I only saw a few people in the 40 - 60 age range - where I am. I usually see more, so I assume that they had the good sense to sleep in and not tempt the rain gods who made themselves apparent a couple of times during my walk.

Tomorrow, I plan to do it all again - weather permitting. I'm supposed to walk even if it rains, but I don't have any rain gear yet and I don't want to get sick, so if it rains, I'm staying home.


Part 2

I got up at 6:30 on Sunday, but it was only 38 degrees and the weatherman said it wouldn't get up to 40 until 9:00 am. That's when I decided there was no way I was going to walk in the cold.

My daughter told me I shouldn't have wimped out and should have walked because it can be that cold in NYC in October. I believe it may be 38 when we start out in the morning for
the walk, but I think it will warm up more than 2 degrees in the first 2 1/2 hours.

So instead of walking five miles, I did all my laundry and cleaned (really cleaned) my bedroom before noon. I spent the rest of the day quilting. All in all a good trade off.

Until next time.