Alien on the Road

What a gorgeous weekend! The weather was just splendid.
I decided to make the most of it by leaving the car at home when I could and walk.
I'm a city girl and walking is my preferred mode of transportation by far. I love any activity that has a multi-purpose. When I walk I get my physical exercise, I get to think, it's an emotional cleanser and I usually discover something new along the way.

I walked to two destinations this weekend, both in the burbs. The first was the restaurant across the bridge (a 15 minute walk) to get take out on Saturday evening. I figured that if I was going to indulge in pasta I might as well walk to get it! The second was to meet my friend at the Westport Country Playhouse to see the Vagina Monologues (about a 25 minute walk).

Both times I started my walk with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. I so psyched to have sunshine on my face and no car. The joy dissipated quickly.

Here's why. I started my walk using a side walk but the side walk first became so bumpy that it was uncomfortable and quickly became non existent. So I found myself walking on the bike path. Now the the bike path is as you know rarely respected by drivers. So all of a sudden I found myself not lost in my thoughts but a little anxious that I would be hit by a car. Second, there was no else but me. The few other walkers were exercising, I was in civilian clothes and I felt the eyes of every driver on me. They looked at me as if to say "what's that crazy person doing walking on the road, weird that she's dressed in civilian clothes and not walking to the train station." I do not joke when I tell you that even the town cop slowed down to look at me behind his aviator glasses. The only other "civilians" I met on my way were a couple of teenagers who didn't have a driver's license and wished they were driving.

At the end of the walk I still felt good about walking and leaving the car but I did feel like an alien on the side of the road. I'll keep walking as much as I can but I sure do miss walking amongst a crowd, invisible and lost in my thoughts.