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Sunday January 15
"main street"
Date: 1/15/2006 4:54:55 PM ( 18 y ) ... viewed 2830 times Today I walked around on what many consider to be our "main street" although it's not called Main Street. Part of it was bricked in many years ago to create a pedestrian mall. It's an entertaining and vitality-filled place to walk and observe.
First stop was the coop grocery store, to get information about a presentation this afternoon. Next I walked along trying to be in the present moment and yet remembering good times from years long past at my old friend Deradune's row house (she lives in another state now) just a stone's throw from the site of the coop. Not that I don't have good times now; things are just so different.
The air felt noticeably colder than yesterday. A snowstorm is predicted for tonight. We do need the precipitation.
This street is about people. Families getting together for a Sunday outing. Babies in creative conveyances attached to the backs of parents' bikes. Dreadlocked families. A couple carrying a miniature dog...chihuahua? Everyone stops to visit with the mini dog.
I stop to get a PETA newsletter about vegetarianism out of a newspaper rack. PETA's ok, but I don't like to look at the pictures they tend to place in their publications. I am a vegetarian but have never needed to look at pictures of the horrors of factory farming in order to motivate myself to become or remain a vegetarian.
That's just one person's opinion.
Back to my walk/ observations. Good to breathe the fresh air. I spent a long while earlier cleaning one of the pet areas of my house. Good feeling getting it done.
Many new stores opened up since I last took the time to observe this section of the main street. A giant greeting card/gift store in a brand new building carefully made to look old, with worn-looking new wood floors, and worn-looking new empty display tables in the windows. Many people my son's and daughter's age milling about inside oohing and ahhing about the merchandise.
Lots of outdoor cafes. A creative sandwich shop, a restaurant with the name of a flower, and so many more. The people with the mini dog walked ahead of me and sat down at one of the outdoor cafes. Now they have a crowd surrounding them admiring their dog as they drink their Bloody Marys.
Past the huge chain espresso cafe/store, and one of the innovative children's play areas with a spare changer occupying the space and no children playing.
People are stopping to give quarters to the spare changer who smiles politely and thanks them all.
The used bookstore I used to visit frequently is closed this morning. A new used bookstore has opened a few blocks east. This town supports a large number of used and new bookstores. Nice. I wonder if it's a struggle with so much competition?
I've noticed that I feel more limber, the more I walk. Some knee pains that I seem to get intermittently are not present at all today. It feels nice to walk far.
I turn back toward the coop store again. A few people I know from years ago pass going the opposite direction. We exchange brief hellos.
My mother calls on the cell phone. Speaks of seeing one of the musicians from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recently in Denver. She said it was a really enjoyable concert. She also said my brother was in a "uke group" jamming with others who play ukeleles, among other stringed instruments, today. The quality of walking while talking on a cell phone is not the same. She ends the conversation anyway.
A puppy greets me on the next corner, and then puppy and owner cross the street the same way I'm going and head into the cafe for pets and owners. Looks like fun. Wonder if I could go there with my cat? Looks like it's mostly for dogs and their people....
Condos that were once 80 thousand dollars when first built are now over 300 thousand. Yet the building has not changed other than looking older and somewhat worn. Realities of our society.
Now I arrive back at my starting point. I find out the afternoon presentation I had planned to attend has been cancelled. Oh, well, life goes on.
More errands to do. I hope to walk again tomorrow.
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