Time moves forward, but we can always remember and reflect on September 11, 2001.
cityscape
The freshness after the rain
This past week started out with unusually hot temperatures and high humidity. Everyone was staying inside and trying to keep cool in whatever way we could. After about four or five days of heat, a storm moved through with heavy rain and wind, followed by a cool front behind it. The next morning I was out for a walk in our neighborhood. The lighter, cooler, fresher air was a welcome relief. I walked over to Como Golf Course and spent a few minutes watching the sun clear the hills and trees. People were out and about walking their dogs, running, and bicycling. It was as if everyone was anxious to enjoy the cool of the morning and the promise of a new day. I turned a corner and found this cat precariously seated on the house railing – as if he too was enjoying the morning and waiting to welcome the sunrise.
Amidst celebration, a bit of repose
Like most, my three-day weekend has been filled with various activities and events. Places to go, people to see, things to do. We enjoyed dinner and a musical at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. We clocked off the miles on a summer’s day bike ride on the Cannon Valley Trail between Red Wing and Cannon Falls. We did yard work and house work. But with the perfect blue skies and summer temperatures, I made sure to pencil in some time to relax. With a baseball game on the radio, a lovely breeze blowing through the back yard, blue skies and sun, it was the perfect time to relax on the hammock. A clearing of the mind from the work-day routines and a nod to what we love about summer. When the cold, the snow, and the darkness of winter are howling outside, these summer days are the ones that keep our spirits up.
Sunset conversation
Our weather has been warm and humid, leaving two options for coping. First is to find some air conditioning and sequester yourself inside. Second is to hunt out a nearby lake and take in the cool breeze that blows across the surface. I sought out the second option one night this past week, as did others. The wind blew across this urban lake, rustling through the trees and dropping the temps considerably. A beautiful sunset was all that was needed to tell me that I’d chosen the better option. This couple seemed to be thinking the same thing, and relishing the end of another midsummer’s day.
Bicycling again
After an unusually long hibernation, our bicycles have come out of storage and onto the roads and trails again. Although the bikes adjust quickly, it takes a bit longer for us to get our riding legs back in condition. We enjoyed two rides this weekend on the Gateway Trail. Minnesota has wonderful biking and recreation trails, and the Gateway is one of my favorites. This trail wanders from downtown Saint Paul, through the city, into the suburbs, and then out into the countryside passing farms, fields, lakes, and wetlands. The trail has numerous bridges that go over the main streets and roads, making it much safer for riders and drivers. Built on an old railroad bed, it was the perfect trail for us to help acclimate back to riding form. The weekend was a great reminder of how much I enjoy being on a bike, taking in the sounds and smells around me, and reveling in the trail and the physical exercise.
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