Oval Walking

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After we had an icy snowfall, two neighbors checked on me to make sure I wasn’t planning to walk. I didn’t the first day because the road was white. There was a good chance there was ice under the snow. I was surprised the ice slid off my car when the sun shone on it. The next day I could see the road in front of my house was clear, and I dressed for the single-digit temperature. What a surprise to find the road white from Holly’s house to Joyce’s driveway! Finding it slippery, I turned back. It was a shame to waste all that layering of clothing, so I walked an oval path on the dry road to the end of the street and back. That is basically just in front of Logan’s house. After ten loops, I had walked half an hour and was willing to go inside.

After going through my morning routine, I decided to write this. When I got up to make tea, I told myself to walk an oval path inside the house, circling around an inside wall. That will be my rule for the rest of the day – to circle at least twice before sitting again. Although I haven’t changed the thermostat, the house is uncomfortably cool when I sit still. I’m wearing thermal underwear, street clothes, a warm throw that Linda made for me, and a thin blanket on my shoulders. Lurking just under the surface is the idea that I COULD climb in bed and snuggle under the winter duvet if my teeth begin to chatter. A cup of hot chocolate might come first.

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Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

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33 thoughts on “Oval Walking”

  2. I find the house feels cold, too, even though the thermostat hasn’t been changed. I have short hair, and have discovered I feel warmer if I put one of my snug hats on. They say you lose a lot of body heat from your head….seems true in my case.

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      1. My hair was quite warm for many years, but it has thinned quite a bit in the last 5 years. I may begin to wear the hood up on the hoodies that I have. Bet that would make me feel a lot warmer.

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        1. A hood is the warmest sort of headwear, as it covers the vulnerable areas of your ears and neck as well. If it’s roomy enough you can even put it up over a beanie or tam, like a mitten over a glove. I highly recommend it.

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  4. It sounds cold, and walking in icy conditions isn’t safe better walk around the house a few times then to venture outside and slip and fall and maybe hurt yourself. Yesterday arvo I walked up to check the mail using just my cane, this was not a good idea thankfully Jess saw me and sent Sam to check on me, she walked up with me holding my hand to help keep me steady.

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  5. I admire your determination. I have managed to get out to feed birds and give them fresh water, but that is it! At least no precipitation or ice, and the sun continues to shine, but still below freezing.

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    1. I think walking is more a habit than a determination. I am determined, though, to resume walking after a day or so off. I tell myself firmly, “You sit; you die.”

      That threat has worked for 30 years now, and I’m not dead yet.

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  6. The blessing for today is the ice or snow didn’t make it this far north..Sounds backward doesn’t it.but South Mississippi got it this time.This old house is always cold except in Summer ..I have to go out and come back in to know it really is warmer in…Do be careful

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  7. I do a lot of walking inside my house. It’s cold and the streets have icy spots that you don’t see until you are flat on the ground! It’s the time of the year to climb under the covers!

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  9. I am so impressed with your dedication to walking even when it’s cold. And oval walking was smart!

    My mailbox is in a bank of boxes behind my apartment along the roadway. I can’t even make myself walk out there to get my mail. Ugh.

    Stay warm and enjoy your hot chocolate!

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  10. That’s nice of your neighbors Anne. Today I saw a video online of a elderly man (maybe late 80s) shoveling snow in his driveway while sitting on a lawn chair. The person who took the video said she had four kids in the house and couldn’t leave. Instead of taking the video, I wish she had called another neighbor to help. Eventually other people saw him struggling and shoveled for him. Shameful that they don’t just shovel for him. The second year of walking and making my goal, we had bad weather and I had not discovered Council Point Park yet, so I went to Memorial Park, two blocks over, and walked the parking lot over and over again for several days to finish off those miles.

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      1. I usually am, but this brutally cold weather has stifled my walking regimen. I walked the beginning of the year for a few days, then on January 10th, then on January 17th and not since. If it wasn’t the brutal cold, it was the 4-inch snowfall, then freezing rain/ice. That year I was determined to get to my goal and there is a church there and they always plow/salt their parking lot so around and around I went to get it done.

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  11. It sounds cold, and walking in icy conditions isn’t safe better walk around the house a few times. Nice you wearing thermal clothes & warm hot chocolate sounds an absolute necessity. Enjoy your. Tack Care!

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