My first 6 kilometres were walked in the company of some of
the 17 women who turned up today. As
always, I marvelled at the great company I was in. These women have become my confidants, my
cheer-leaders, my story-tellers, my advisors, my friends.
My second loop was on my own (I’m one of the slowest members
these days.) I found myself dawdling a
bit. When engrossed in conversation, I
don’t always notice the beauty around me.
On my own, I heard and saw the city birds: blue jays, cardinals, robins,
woodpeckers, doves (okay, maybe they were pigeons, but they were cooing.) I even think I saw a wood-pewee, but am not
sure. I admired the sweet yellow
crocuses spilling down the hill by the Thomson family memorial.
I also remarked on the tombstones. The
Scots and English names on the older stones and monuments were ones well-known
in business and industry. But as I
walked closer to Mount Pleasant, I recognized the nation-builders who came to
the city later and made us the wonderful, cosmopolitan place we are. Among the eastern Europeans, Steve Stavro’s
awe-inspiring Masonic memorial always reminds me of a huge statue of
charioteers I saw at a cross-roads in Bali.
The many Asian graves were being visited by large family groups as I
passed that section.
When I finished the second loop, I found Helen and Rorie still engaged in conversation at the Yonge Street gates. Helen and I headed for the subway together
and I felt I’d accomplished my mission.
Maybe next time, I’ll work on a bit more speed.
