Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

(click on any photo for larger version)

I try to greet each day with a positive attitude and fresh outlook. One of the ways I do this is by taking a daily walk/run. I have to admit that most of the time I walk, I do not run. I am not a runner. I go through periods of time when I run because I hear running is good for me and there is an alleged "runner's high" which so far I have found to be extremely elusive. Frankly if I were to get high (not that I would ever do such a thing) but if I were, running would not be my drug of choice. I am also not convinced that running is "good" for me. I sweat (which I hate), and I can't breath (which can't be healthy). The plus side is I get to invest in extremely expensive running shoes, and buying shoes of any kind is always a treat. Given the roads in my neighborhood, I repeatedly take a break from running and walk. If I didn't, I am convinced I would just drop dead, or at the very least drop to the ground and cough up blood. For one thing, the roads here (although paved) are not straight nor flat. I live in the mountains, the roads are winding and up/down hill. The other point is that I live on a tropical island, the heat and the humidity can be gruesome. The groovy part is that it's beautiful here in the mountains, and nature is without a doubt one of my "highs".

I walk/run up hill. There are no sidewalks but we do have paved roads.

I walk/run down hill. You would think down hill would feel good but since I know that means soon I am heading up hill again, I can't get too excited.That's a banana plant on the left (big leaf) with an orange tree behind it. There are many fruit trees by the side of the road. (mango and papaya are my favorites) I am still trying to work out the logistics of bringing a blender along with me. I would be more motivated to run if I could whip up some sort of fruit daiquiri along the way.I am absolutely elated when I spot the longest stretch of straight flat road. That means I am close to home and I start to contemplate what daiquiri I am going to make with all the fruit I am carrying. Let me tell you, it isn't easy running while carrying my water bottle, camera, and fruit I picked from the side of the road.This is a breadfruit tree, it's really a veggie. I never pick these from the side of the road because by now I am too loaded down with many other roadside finds.By the time I spot "home sweet home", I am panting and gasping for air. I work on keeping my excitement under control for fear my heart will burst in my chest. Perhaps carrying 10 oranges, 14 bananas, 24 mango's and 6 papayas was too ambitious. I have walked/run for miles (or kilometers, we use the metric system in Puerto Rico). After a shower and several daiquiri's I am ready to face the day. Hope it's groovy where you are.