I have been lax, I haven’t gone for my several times weekly walks around the area since… well, since I was laid off by Diamond.
So, about a month.
Either the weather wasn’t good — unseasonably hot, rainy — or I just didn’t feel like it, like the day the roofers were here. That day, I actually started on my usual walk, got to the parking lot outside the countertop company, and noped right out. Like I said, I just didn’t feel like it.
But, after the nor’easter that dumped rain on me for several days and a job rejection email from Wallace Montgomery, I felt I needed a walk to clear my head. Today’s in that weird state where it’s breezy and a little too cool to go without a hoodie, but it was also too warm for one. Still, I went.
There was a food truck in my neighborhood! A food truck! In my neighborhood!
Sorry, I apologize. I did not expect to see a food truck in my neighborhood. I did not stop for a hot dog, but man, knowing that I could…
A food truck!
Anyway, carrying on.
One of the unfortunate realities of the world we live in is that people die in tragic ways, and on the walking route I often take I walk past this elaborate roadside memorial.
This memorial was set up three or four years ago, and as you can see from the decorations — the pumpkin, the autumn wreath, the Halloween-themed gnome affixed to the tree — not to mention the bench for contemplation, this site is maintained by loved ones on a regular basis. I’ve driven by — it was on the route I took to go to work, or just to go to York — while people were working there, pulling weeds or leaving plants. I don’t know who the person was or how they died, but they were clearly loved and missed.
It was a little brighter — and a little warmer — when I reached the cemetery in Dallastown. I didn’t feel winded and tired as I sometimes do when I reach this point.
I met two men walking their dogs along the way. One indicated through hand signals I should give his dogs a wide berth, I did, and he shouted from across the street that he was sorry but they were excitable. I didn’t mind, as I needed to cross the street the other way. The dog I met later in the cemetery was wearing a pumpkin bandana, and she was lovely but also excitable.
A new business in town! I’ve not heard of them, but they apparently open tomorrow.
When I moved here, this had been a bakery. I say “had,” because I’m not sure they were ever open, though there was a giant “Grand Opening” banner than hung for years. Another business came and went, and I don’t think I knew that it “came” until after it had “went.”
I hope this works out for them. I’ll have to check out the menu sometime.
There were signs on Main Street for tomorrow’s Halloween parade. I’ve never been to Dallastown’s Halloween parade. I’ve heard it — sound carries fantastically well here, I can even hear the sound of football games at the high school — but I’ve never gone to see it.
No, I’m not seriously thinking about going to the Halloween parade. I haven’t been the Memorial Day parade in years, and I even stopped going to the Christmas tree lighting.
The old Glatfelter Furniture building has been rehabbed into luxury apartments. When this building was for sale a year or two ago, I thought it would be fun to buy if I had the money, much like my thoughts the other day of the abandoned Lutheran church.
But I had more specific thoughts about this building and what I would do with it — Diamond, especially post-2020, could have used a York area satellite office given how many employees lived up this way.
Nearing home, the skies were clearer than when I had started, and I was sweaty in the sun. My energy held out, stamina was good.
Two of the kids in my complex smashed a slug on the sidewalk outside my apartment as I was walking up to it. They smashed it good. Poor slug, minding its own business, then smash!
It was a good walk.
I did not lose this game of backgammon.
I could have doubled at this point and there would have been a 1000% chance that the computer would have resigned if I had.
I think I kept white bottled up for four moves. This was a satisfying win.