Long Walks On Leafy Streets

8/5/2015 Beach Drive, Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC
On Wednesday evening I walked to the Takoma Park cooperative store. We had recently become members in this community-oriented store with healthy and organic food items and I was eager to avail myself of our member discounts. It had been a hot steamy day. We had visited another daycare center in search of a place for Prashant, with only a few weeks to go before we return to work. In the afternoon he was very cranky and needed extra attention. So around 7.30 after he had finally calmed down and slept for an hour I was able to leave home for the store.

The air had cooled down quite a bit and it was a pleasant evening with the sun going down. I would have enjoyed it more had I not been feeling a bit weak and fuzzy in the head. This has become somewhat common these days, what with the lack of regular sleep or eating schedule.
Halfway through the mile and a quarter to the store I was scolding myself for being so extreme in my caring for the environment and not driving unless it is absolutely necessary. But once I got inside the air-conditioned store with its soothing music I felt better. In fact I felt relaxed and suddenly very light. It is indeed quite hectic and physically tiresome taking care of a baby, although very joyful otherwise. So it is refreshing when you get a little break and a moment to do something different. I enjoyed walking around the aisles, taking my time and not rushing about as I normally do. I bought a bottle of protein smoothie for the walk home.

It was dark when I started walking with the two full grocery bags in either hand. I walked very slowly, enjoying the night air and the scenery. Two firemen and a firewoman sat outside the fire station chatting and watching passers-by. A family was having a birthday party with their friends on their front yard. Diners were enjoying their meals and drinks alfresco at the Republic restaurant where all the windows were open and tables were laid out on the sidewalk. Now I was really glad I walked instead of driving. I would have missed the whole experience, both with nature and with people.

My days continue to move along slowly. Only three weeks to go before classes start. Life revolves around Prashant’s activities. During the day sometimes I feel like a zombie due to the lack of proper sleep. At times I feel irritable and weak minded. Yet all of it vanishes in a second the instant he smiles at me. He does a lot of that these days, and not just little smiles. Especially when I change his diaper he seems to become very happy and opens his mouth in a wide toothless grin.

This morning I was watering the plants while holding him in one hand. He loves being outside, especially in the morning. He looks at the trees, birds and flowers with keen interest. At least I think so! Although I haven’t had much time to do gardening, I had sown some seeds without doing much preparation hoping that some of them would sprout. Five of the bell pepper seeds and four of the sunflower seeds have sprouted and grown into plants. The blueberry bush seems to be making a comeback while the coreopsis flowers are in bloom in the front-yard. The sunflowers are the most spectacular. As I was passing by the biggest of them I saw a big honeybee sitting on it. I have seen such scenes in photos but seeing it in real life was spectacular. These days even small things are so exciting!

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