I went for my little walk with the lil hippy (Alexis). I enjoy our bonding time and with each step I keep an insightful watch on my little daughter growing up. As her steps grow longer, her stride wider and quicker over these years ... her thoughts and views grow too.
Our stroll to the small town consist of a mere 6 small blocks each way ... but the time to travel each way shortens, the time spent together seems endless. Only a few years ago I remember her expressing her fear of starting school. Chatting - going down the road that has signs of an early autumn, the colors of Ohio fall foliage begin to show around this time of the year.
With school in its second week my lil hippy now speaks of school as a forth grade veteran. No fears but excitement and *gasp* even talk of "cute" boys in her class. I listen full hearted as she rambles about this and that thing, but I cant help but to let my mine drift back to our strolls of yesteryear ...
Those walks down these same cracked sidewalks -- warning her to step careful at those same 'bad' spots that been on these streets well before her time of walking around them. Thinking that as SHE approaches those same spots and warns ME to be careful not to trip ...
In the years that we've walk this very same walk, being the 'Artsie' dad as well as the 'nature loving hippy' I always take the time to show here some unique architecture or a great flower-tree or bush that we past on our scenic journey to town ...
How she's grown, stopping me to ask about a certain structure as we passed. I think she's definitely has an eye for detail like the old man
*nods*
How's she grown ... as she points out the new plant at a house we pass amongst many houses on our walks. Yes, my child has an eye for the beauty that lies right before her ... Not walking past it -- without noticing
*sighs*
(it does my heart good)
I wondered as she rambled about her new found love of last year dreaded 'Gym Class' how many more walks like these we'll have. With the new plants that have grown in our way ... others disappear. The shade tree at the half way point is gone. Another new drug store built -but- other little shops along our stops closed. The neighborhood changes as do the downtown shops. New faces to say hi to and limbs that we used to duck under now stand tall. Her steps and her pace are quicker -or- are mine smaller and slower?
*shrugs*
Its a good walk ... I enjoy it at this time of year especially.
This the season of the quickest change.
One day you notice a chill in the morning air and a few drifting yellow leaves.
The next its:
"grab a coat its cold out"
kicking the brown fallen leaves out of your path.
Looking straight up threw bare branches to see a gray sky.
These are changes I expect with each year, they come regardless of my dreaded
-- that next season that follows --
but I enjoy it while its here.
Which brings me to my topic and end of this story my faithful blog readers ...
That 'lil hippy' of mine is beautiful and as welcome as my beloved Ohio autumn.
But sad because like this season of quick change ...
winter
(her growing up)
is going to happen --
I'll just enjoy it while it last ...
