Meeting a Friend

Meeting a Friend

Walking in the park, boring. I only do it to get in my “required” steps. When I lie to my doctor about walking every day, he seems to know… Either he’s sharp, or I’m not as good a liar as I used to be. Well, the health part too…stay physical, or plan to stay home a lot.

The park is nice. I’ve lived near it for a good forty-five years now, which is why I seem to know every rock. We always had dogs and this is where we walked them. Then the kids, till they outgrew “parents” being there, but John and I still went, walking dogs and sometimes just walking each other.

This thought sent me missing John, even missing the kids, though I still see them often, the grandkids, and their dogs and cats. I think about getting a dog on occasion, but I don’t think I’m ready for that energy. As I was wallowing in my pity, something dropped into my hair! It was a small branch, and as I looked up, I saw how it fell. A bird making a nest! I didn’t recognize the type bird; I never took the time to learn types. This one was bright, with white stripe around its neck, like a scarf. Without thinking I started a conversation with it.

“You dropped that in my hair!”

A voice came from in front of me, “I did nothing of the sort!” quite snottily, I may add.

“I was talking to the bird.” I said snottily back!

She burst out laughing, and then so did I. And that’s how Daisy and I met. Now we keep each other company while we do our daily walks.

I didn’t know how badly I needed a friend my own age, until I got one.