Perspective From A Brave Place

a5.JPGThere’s this pedestrian bridge that connects downtown Marietta with Old Town.

I hate this bridge.

It seems kind of rickety. The boards are soft and it’s been patched in a few places.

I have stepped up on it a few times but never had the nerve to walk across the darn thing. It crosses the Muskingum River and seems awfully long given that I’m afraid of heights, can’t swim and am terrified of falling through a weak board to my watery grave.

But I’ve been feeling braver than normal lately, or maybe just wreckless, so I took the bridge during my adventures Saturday.

Here are some things I wouldn’t have seen if I hadn’t braved the bridge.

A family. See the eggs in the nest?

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This plaque honoring an important man.

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Athletes hard at work.

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Lots of locks. Incidentally, I feel like we don’t need to be adding weight to this structure but maybe I’m just a stick in the mud.

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Here’s a better view of the scary bridge.   Pedestrians and bicycles use the wooden walkway. The iron bridge is a historic but abandoned railroad bridge. Isn’t it fabulous?

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Here’s a view of the other side. You can drive here too.

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Just so you know, lots of people use this walkway every day. You always encounter locals with their dogs, bicycles and baby strollers. It probably isn’t as scary to the rest of the world as it is to me so, by all means, go and enjoy the view.

I’m just pleased that I braved it once and got a different perspective than I would’ve had from the shore.

Roll Down The Window and Turn Up The Music

a81.JPGThe last few months have been rough and have left me feeling worn out and cranky. Fortunately, the source of my stress has finally passed and life is returning to normal. I got some rest Friday and then went on a little adventure yesterday.

It wasn’t much of an adventure really but it felt amazing to just breathe fresh air and to do as I pleased without a nagging voice in the back of my mind insisting that things beyond my control could result in disaster.

No pressure, right?

You know how I found my happy place yesterday? I hit the road. More than that, I turned up my favorite playlist and rolled down the windows. There’s something freeing about listening to good tunes with the window rolled down on a sunny day.

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I came home smiling and feeling truly happy.

It was a good day.

We spend too much time indoors. My (unsolicited) advice is that you breathe fresh air and soak in the sunshine every chance you get. And, if you’re in the car and the weather allows, roll down the window.

Trust me. It makes driving so much more fun. 

And don’t forget to turn up your favorite music. It’ll make you feel like a teenager again!

 

 

Memorable Vacation Photos

I snapped this photo in the Utah desert last summer. It reminds me a little of the show Breaking Bad. It also reminds me of hot summer days hiking through Arches and Canyonlands with a wonderful friend.

Summer is just around the corner. I’ve been busy ordering visitors guides, scrolling through the web and studying maps.

Here’s hoping for a summer of memorable photos like this one.

Adulthood

Adulthood is looking forward to a day off so you can sleep in and clean house. In case you’re wondering, I didn’t sleep in but am going to clean. Compromise – that’s another symptom of adulthood.

Happy Friday, everyone! Do something that makes you smile today!

Spring Flowers!

Look what I found on my hike last night!

Isn’t it pretty? Now I can honestly say that Spring has arrived.

Repetition

There are some places where I never tire of spending time. Lake Alma State Park falls into this category. My favorite feature here is is the nice bike path that stretches past the lake and into the nearby City of Wellston.

It’s reasonably peaceful most days and easily accessible for a quick walk after work.

I sometimes snap phone pictures here during my walks and the challenge is to find new ways to look at the familiar.

Like these boats.And the road.

Luckily, nature changes daily. The sky and the light are always different. Right now the trees are bare but starting to bud. In a couple of weeks they will look completely different.

Repetition may seem boring to others but I find it calming and even challenging at times. I like looking for new ways to see the familiar.

It’s a skill, I think, being able to look at something day in and day out but still see it from a fresh perspective. It’s a skill that can be applied to situations that require problem solving and to daily life just to prevent boredom.

Perhaps this is why I am never bored. There’s always something to see or learn about a subject – even when you think you’ve seen it all!