Timing

Post 189

Timing is everything. How many times have you heard that?

Today I took both a walk and a hike and as different as they were, timing may have played a significant role in a good experience for both, when different timing could have, or would have, wrought completely different endings.

The first walk was first thing in the morning, out by 6:15 am and I went back to Little Cove Transformer. Part of me wants to see a GBH, and I thought maybe if I got there early enough I would. Nope. No nature signs at all while I continued listening to more of the same JP podcast. You may recall that I mentioned that on this walk there is a small tunnel that goes under the street and my dog likes to walk back on the other side.

As we approached that spot, I saw coming at me, about the same distance from the tunnel as me, a young man probably in his early 20s, but he wasn't out for his exercise. He was walking fairly slowly and held a backpack to his chest with both arms.

My Spidey senses prickled and although a good half of me wanted to see if the young man might need help of some kind, the other half realized I needed to get to that intersection and go through the tunnel. In today's society it is sad to say that there are a lot of unpredictable people out there based on drugs or mental illness. I pictured my husband, if something went terribly wrong, asking me what I could possibly have been thinking. But timing, and if he had been somehow up to no good, was that I had the opportunity to take a right at that precise meeting. He kept going and did not go under the tunnel also, but who knows?

Late in the afternoon I had planned to take a couple kids from the Grace's of Gurley program hiking with me, but the weather was somewhat ominous and threatening and I didn't want to take a chance with them.

I headed off by myself in the opposite direction where there was less chance of bad weather. Lately I'm craving the endorphins of pushing myself up the trails at Cathedral Caverns. One thing I have loved about Northern Alabama since moving here in 2019 is the cloud formations. I stopped at the entrance to snap these couple of pictures.

I could tell by the damp roads and trail that it had rained in this area earlier. I set off, without my dog this time, and enjoyed every minute of it. There were almost no flies or gnats. The sound was that of the wind rustling the leaves up high, as well as distant thunder. For most of it, even the birds were hunkered down and there was no chirping.

I had begun dinner for my hubby before I set out and while I was using the air fryer to cook the asparagus, I had begun thanking Morgan for introducing me to this particular appliance. I use it a lot. While hiking, I also began thinking of many of the things I was so thankful for that were because of Morgan. Here is a short list.

1. All the fun and adventure. Because of her competitive nature and athletic ability, we got to go to many places, and I got to live most of my 50s vicariously through her. Had I been her age, I think I would have loved playing beach volleyball, too.

2. We LOVE where we live. Without her getting into UAB through beach volleyball and academics, there is no way we would have ended up here.

3. She taught me to keep my mouth shut sometimes. She was not shy about telling me I was “out of place” in her mind, but many times in reality I was, and I learned to be better.

4. Her willingness to be herself. Neither of us were into the fru fru things of being a female that society tells you to be. We dabbled in it here and there, but it isn't what we put much thought into. She was one of those people who did not want to be fake, or be around fake people, no matter the consequence. It sometimes made life more lonely for her, but she knew who she was.

5. She had cute clothes, some of which I now wear, some of which I gave to the kids I know, and some donated. She had a classic type style.

6. Her movie and TV show recommendations over the years. She turned us onto some entertaining things.

7. Besides the air fryer, her love of food shows, Trader Joes, etc. filled our cupboards and fridge with new spices, new appetizers, new desserts. Many times our Christmas gifts from her were food related. She was very good at picking the right gift.

Please understand, these are some things I thought of that I'm thankful for because of Morgan, not in place of her.

The timing had to do with the fact that I only felt a few drops of rain while hiking and only a few minutes of light rain on my drive back home. Hubby sent a text that it had rained hard back at home. Timing was perfect as far as weather.

I miss Mo a lot. I'm not feeling as sad these past few days, but I just know that she's missing. A piece of my heart is missing.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27 NIV