It never fails. I grab Casey and leave the house one way -- tense, frowning down at the ground, mind racing with worries about kids and schedules and to do lists. 45 minutes and 3 miles later I return a different person -- calm, face relaxed, looking up at my surroundings and, above all, grateful.
And because I'm still pleasantly warm and enjoying the slightly intoxicating after effects of a bit of exercise, I'd like to share my favorite things about an October walk.
- Crisp, fragrant air.
- Casey kicking up her heels, ears flopping as she chases busy squirrels.
- The sound of dry leaves crunching underfoot.
- The brilliant color of reds, rusts, and golds against a backdrop of gray-brown earth and tree trunks.
- No bugs! If you've ever walked in a New England forest in the summer, you'll appreciate this one.
- Casey smiling up at me, wearing a silly orange vest that makes her look like a canine superhero.
- The bright, airy quality of the forest without its leaves.
- The feel of a cool breeze on my face.
- The smell of wood smoke on the air.
- Knowing that our home will be warm and cozy when I return.
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." -- L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
