When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, in small town Nova Scotia, a night out on the town meant walking up and down and up and down Main Street, past the shops restaurants, and the teen-aged boys, who were also walking up and down and up and down Main Street. The only thing that changed was that after turning 16, we often drove the family car up and down Main Street.
A couple of small problems there! There were six of us siblings who had to share the car, so we had to be creative. One brother and I had an arrangement. He would take the car to pick up his date, and take her to the movies. He would leave the car parked in front of the town’s only movie theatre, with the keys in the ignition. I would pop by and take it out for a spin on Main Street and bring it back to park in front of the theatre. If any of his dates noticed that it was parked in a different spot, I never heard about it.
Another little embarrassing moment happened with a 1960 Pontiac that we had. While driving it one evening, at a very inconvenient moment, as I was making a right turn, I turned the signal light on, and the car horn honked three times. Loudly! The three boys who were on the corner waved cheerfully and I turned red. From that moment on, every right-hand turn caused the horn honking so I devised ways to avoid them. Instead of turning right into my driveway, I went up to the corner, turned around at the gas station, came back on the other side of the road and turned left into the driveway.
I have always been a good walker, so a couple of years ago, I joined a local gym, to keep myself active, especially in the winter months when it is too cold and windy outside, and the summer months, when it is too hot and humid. It was fairly expensive and not very interesting, and I have been looking for an alternative. I have finally found the perfect solution.
This week I joined a local shopping centre’s mall walking group, which I will call Walk and Talk.
The women and men I met there are very friendly and welcoming and the whole atmosphere is relaxed and cheerful. And at $10 a year it’s a price I couldn’t say no to.
So far I have walked more than 10,000 steps each time I have been there. That’s been my goal for months and one which I rarely achieved until now.
It’s been a good beginning and I hope it continues in the same way.
Thanks for reading and happy walking!
– Maureen
Old Girl New Tricks 