Latest Walking Medals

I recently received this double-sided medal on completing my 2,052 km virtual walk along the coastal road in Vietnam. It took me a little over 5 months to do it.

My goal was 10,000 steps a day!

This time I also received a new pin that marks 5 challenges completed.

When I first started these virtual challenges, I wondered how motivating these physical tokens would be.

Turns out, they're very important. I need a tangible reminder of every virtual trip.

I think they are also significant for others - like my grandchildren.

The beautiful medals make it more real!

Living and Learning

We're never too old to stop learning from people - young and old.

A few weeks ago, I read an article about a 100-year-old man who had walked his first 5k race - with his children and grandchildren - at age 100! What an adventure that would have been! 

I then jotted down a comment he  made: "If it hasn't been done before, why wouldn't I try it?" That's something to think about... Do I have his indomitable spirit?! (And I'm not 100 yet!)

Then last week, I saw a story about another local centenarian - a woman who was celebrating her 106th birthday!

Her mother once told her that she wouldn't amount to much, she recalled... so she left home and joined the army. Eventually she became a code-breaker in the war.

But she did heed her mother's advice when she told her to eat 2 eggs a day to be healthy. It became a lifelong habit.

And she's still healthy at 106!

Hmmm... Maybe I need to eat more eggs!

Early Morning Sky...

We have reached the year's longest days...

The light of dawn arrives before 5 AM.

These photos were taken by my son at 5:15 AM - sunrise - as he rode the bus to work.

I hate to miss these "gifts" - but I slept through this one!

"I hope you didn't miss this beautiful sunrise," he texted me. "Here are some pictures, in case you did!"

Glad he thought to share!

Birthday Nostalgia

Birthdays have a way of churning up nostalgia from by-gone days - especially for parents!

(Were they ever really that young?! You know they were - but that was so long ago!!)

Today is a family birthday...

And I've been looking through old photos...

I came across this one - our first-born on her first visit to the farm at Upper Canada Village - a one-year-old fascinated by the horses and cows... I WANT TO TOUCH THEM!

And here she is, 8 or 9 summers later, on a  visit to Kelowna (where my parents seem over-dressed for summer weather in the Okanogan!)

And here - a cousins' get together... Was that on the same visit to Kelowna?!

Lots of great memories!

And happy birthday to the birthday girl!! 🎂🎉

Green World

Thanks to rain and hot weather, our yard is all green...

"Get a picture of that rabbit," Terry tells me. (He loves the gentle rabbits the way I enjoy the antics of squirrels!)

Another green development... the olive tree that I brought outdoors for the summer is growing NEW PALE green leaves... while the OLD DARK leaves now have brown tips and are beginning to drop.

Will the leaves become darker as summer passes?

While driving to Toronto a few weeks ago, I noticed that new leaves on trees along the highway were also pale green... 

I wonder what makes them darken over the course of the summer.

Fan Zone?!

My daughter's Toronto neighborhood is near a large soccer field.

An area has been blocked off for a "fan zone" - with grandstand seating, music, food - and large video screens for fans to watch the world cup.

At the mall where I do my 10,000 daily steps, they have also set up a "fan zone", with a sprawling sofa...

But I'm not sure the tiny TV screen will draw many serious fans! (Or is this small screen just a video game?!)

Labyrinth Exercise

For me, a labyrinth walk is peacefully meditative, as my body and mind churn up thoughts from my subconscious.

But a labyrinth can provide exercise, too! 

Within the bounds of its narrow path, a surprising number of steps - a long circuitous walk in a small area.

Perhaps even a joyful run!