Walking during the pandemic has kept me sane.

Among colorful and faded houses…

The dogs are breathing fast, but a soothing breeze cools my skin under the bright Florida sun. I wonder, who lives in these little old houses? A few sport cheerful paint colors and well-kept yards, while others, with their rickety fences and dirty windows, have seen happier days. Are their inhabitants currently sharing a meal — or conspiracy theories on social media?

A creek shimmers in the midday sun

I step away from the railing, a public surface where apparently germs can live for seven days, as I peer down into the clear water and lush vegetation shaded by old trees. It is a soothing view. My dog Miles stares at the birds flitting around in the branches, he and them unaware of any human fear.  I wonder if there will be a bird baby boom as fewer people intrude on their environment.

I walk to escape isolation 

Strolling these empty streets nourishes body, mind, and spirit. Rarely, I see a jogger or walker, a few more in the cooler hours, but right now it seems that most are dialing up the A/C and missing out on the blue skies just outside their doorstep. Some are probably baking, crafting, cooking for their families, or sewing face masks for healthcare workers. In any case, no matter what everybody’s doing or how we are coping, we are all holding our collective breath and trying to get through this.