March 2024 SOLC–Day 6
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
Although the weather forecast called for unrelenting grey this week, I woke on Monday to blue skies and sparkling sunshine. The ride to work was stunning. After some overnight rain, everything was fresh and vivid. A haphazard V of geese flew low over my car and the rising sun lit their bellies a glow. It doesn’t get much better than that. I’m totally taking a walk after school today.
All day long one of my students was obsessing over wearing shorts tomorrow. I kept overhearing him talking to his classmates with great enthusiasm. “Are you wearing shorts tomorrow?” “I’m gonna wear shorts tomorrow.” His intensity made me smile. After dark winter days, we’re all ready for some sun and warmth.
Recess duty was a joy and we were hard pressed to blow the whistle and end all the fun. The likelihood of more sun this week was scant and the students (and we) were happily soaking in the rays and the moderate temperatures. I couldn’t wait for my afternoon walk!
At the end of the day I gathered my things quickly to leave. As I walked out to my car, a friend passed me, heading back into the building, “Molly, you should stay for yoga!” she said. (Our fabulous PTA has arranged for a free 6 week session of weekly yoga on Monday afternoons.)
“No way,” I replied. “It’s gorgeous outside. I’m going for a walk.”
“You really should try it some time,” she said. She knows my complex feelings about yoga (which might or might not appear in a blog post later this month).
“Not today!” I replied, thankful to be outside and looking forward to my walk.
As I drove home, I watched the clouds gather steadily. Or maybe I was just driving into them? Either way, by the time I got home, that lovely warm sunshine was a memory and the skies were covered with a thick blanket of grey. Oh, no. I wonder if it’s still sunny at school? I stepped out of the car to a brisk wind. It’s colder here, too! I really wanted a warm-ish sunny walk!
Winter in Maine is tough with all daylight hours literally spent at work. I leave in the dark and drive home in the dark. Now that there’s some time at the end of the day, you just have to take advantage of it.
So, I changed my shoes, zipped up my coat and set off at a brisk pace, giving one last fleeting, regretful thought to my imagined warm, sunny walk. Heading down our rural road, I watched a hawk lift and soar from a nearby field and traced its low path through the trees until I could no longer follow it. Where was it going? I veered off the main road and onto a blocked access road. With the recent rains, the creek water was flowing, gushing and tumbling over slabs of rock. I felt my shoulders ease as I listened to the rushing sounds. I walked carefully hoping to see a deer or other creature, but it was just me and a few far-off birds. It was thoroughly lovely.
Even as the day grew darker, and it started to mist, my footsteps lightened. I didn’t care that the sun had disappeared for the day. Or that the dark was steadily gathering around me. I didn’t even mind the fact that the mist gradually turned to drizzle and that drizzle inevitably turned to rain.
It just felt so good to be outside and moving.
Nix the comfort zone 
Oh, thank you. This has so much…the giddy pre-springtime joy at school, the yearning for a few more hours of daylight and spring to fully arrive, and I am so curious about the complicated feeling surrounding yoga! Your Maine day felt a lot like my Syracuse one, although we do not have such a fabulous PTA!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our PTA is pretty amazing! I actually had a 15-minute trigger point massage at school today, although I’m actually not sure if it was the PTA who coordinated it, or if it was more of a “donation” of sorts (aka advertising) from a local chiropractor’s office. Still, definitely wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that I read this as my first slice of the day while watching dark clouds and lightning take over our sky in Miami. What you shared about enjoying a sunny recess made me realize how much I take our weather for granted. How lucky are we to go outside pretty much every day! I also loved how you wrote about the dark.
Being outside is such a privilege I’ve only recently understood and valued. You might have inspired my next slice. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We go outside most days in Maine, even when it is drizzling or extremely cold. It wasn’t too long ago that I checked and the wind chill was 7˚ F while we were out at recess. Yikes! No wonder I was cold. Still, I’m sure you have more winter daylight hours than we do. Enjoy them all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll get to visit Maine for the first time this summer for a writing retreat. I hear it is lovely then!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! What writing retreat are you going on? I signed up for one in Maine as well this summer! (Ralph Fletcher and Georgia Heard’s)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the one! Oh, how awesome!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You create such a contrast here between the students talking about wearing shorts and soaking in the sunshine to the misty, dark, windy walk when you got home. It makes your line “it was just me and a few far-off birds. It was thoroughly lovely” just perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had been totally looking forward to a warm, sunny walk, but am so thankful I was able to shift gears and enjoy the drizzly one that presented itself.
LikeLike
To be outside and moving is a gift indeed. I hope with spring days coming and more light in the afternoon, I will be able to walk more. It’s always rejuvenating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our shortest winter days are short indeed. (The sun goes down before 4 pm in December up our way!) It’s a joy to have some daylight available at the end of the days now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a turn of events! I bet the weather change was disappointing, but you made the best of it and went for a walk anyway…and it sounds like you really enjoyed it, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad I still got out for a walk. It’s all too easy to opt out sometimes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better than yoga ANY day. (imho)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, we definitely need to have a conversation about yoga one of these days! lol
LikeLike
First, motion is lotion! Well done choosing the outdoors.
“With the recent rains, the creek water was flowing, gushing and tumbling over slabs of rock.” We crossed such a creek in Santa Barbara yesterday six times. Describing our Rattlesnake Creek, I needed more than rushing and raging to describe the torrent. I like your three descriptors and thank you in advance for my use of them in future California blogs. I’ll buy the coffee the next time we meet to show my appreciation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m looking forward to that coffee and to catching up! I’ll also look forward to seeing those adjectives in your blog 🙂
LikeLike
I’m a big fan of walking outdoors–even when the weather isn’t great. I had a bit of a rain walk of my own this afternoon–much better than the alternative: time on the stationary bike! So happy you enjoyed your outdoor walk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My alternative tends to be time on the couch or at my desk! Once in a great while the treadmill makes an appearance. I enjoyed reading about your rainy and rewarding walk. You really can see such beautiful and interesting things when you don’t wait for the “perfect” weather.
LikeLiked by 1 person