The Middle of Vacation

Every weekend, it feels as though we are caught up in the middle of some extended vacation. On Saturday, the day started with honey-buckwheat pancakes with sliced bananas, coffee for me, and the Velvet Underground on the radio. Socks, shoes, and red hats, and we were off to discover some new place.

I wound up driving through N.F. I was looking for this "rail trail" which some biker at the cycle shop had given me vague directions to. We passed the country store and happened instead upon the quiet driveway for a path which runs along the E. River. The path leads right into E., and my first stop was this little art shop with pretty little paintings of marine life and stars. Then, across the street to the Mediterranean place. I wanted to buy some tabbouleh. The owner offered samples of these pumpkin-spinach balls. I bit into one: it tasted spicier and softer than a falafel, but had the same fried exterior. I offered half to Langston, who nibbled enthusiastically, so I bought some of those, too.

More walking by the river, then back home for lunch. Right after lunch, an almost three-hour nap followed by tea with graham crackers. We read a few books leisurely in the late afternoon, and then bundled up for another walk, this time just through the drive behind my apartment complex to the mailbox.







Today, Sunday, another beautiful sky brought the day, so we went down to the river around nine a.m. On the way, we passed a small turn-off for a forest - I'll go back and investigate that later today. This time, I wanted to find the path on the other side of the river. It's even prettier there, though you kind of have to cut through a group of condominium buildings. The path is grassy, with soft gravel, and there are these two street lanterns that appear, like something from Narnia.





I walked briskly, and felt my cheeks redden. On the way back through town to the side of the river where the car was, I traded smiles with other happy pedestrians.