Well if you spend any time at all reading my blog you know how much my walking path means to me. I love taking long walks, short walks, hard walks, leisure walks, whatever, on it.
A of couple weeks ago I was on a walk that was quite the workout. There is this one area on this particular path that I always say to Gary when we get there, "If I ever run away from home this is where you'll find me." It is short wooded area with a stream running next to the path. When returning from the walk; the opening before I get there is always so welcoming. I feel like I'm entering the arms of God as I get to that spot. Right at the entrance is the marvelous clump of trees that I call the "family tree". It looks like a bunch of trees met there for a family reunion and they are all standing at the gate to great me as I enter in.
When I get to this spot I am on my return route and it is about the 3 mile mark for my 4 mile walk. So often I am tired and sometimes want to give up, but I can't because I still need to get home. Well, anyway, when I was coming around the bend before I reach that spot I noticed two people (a man and a woman) cutting across the grass to the path from some homes in the area. They looked to be my age and were dressed like they were going to take a leisure walk. As I go around the bend I lose sight of them until I reach the entrance to this wooded area. That is when I see them again.
They are standing in the woods right behind my tree family. It is very clear that they are not there for good purposes. The exchange of money and "something" in plastic bags makes it clear that whatever they are doing is something they don't want others to see. As I approach they look at me and I at them. I give them "the look" that my daughter always said I was so good at. I don't stop or talk with them. In fact I pick up my pace a bit so they know I'm not a threat. I'm hoping they decide this might not be a place to do whatever business they were doing in the future. It is public and often a busy path.
It saddened me as I reflected back on the experience. It was so unexpected on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the suburbs. They didn't have tattoos or torn cloths, they just looked like a couple going for a walk that you might bump into in a grocery store somewhere. Now as I walk past what used to be my place of serenity I'm reminded of that day. I look over at the houses and pray for whoever lives there. That they will find a better way to live and that no harm comes to others in that neighborhood.
