never used this tip....yet

mine hang inside

walk blog 17

Now this is a little freaky.
I had mentioned earlier about the woman who was so encouraging to me with my walking .
Then I had the chance to meet her.
But I also had another person that I had never met
who was quite inspirational to me.


posted in walkblog 15 last July

CONFESSIONS OF A STREET WALKER #1

During the summer of 2014 I decided to try to get a little bit healthier.  Knowing that for me it is either - eat less or move more - I thought that moving more might be easier.

I was inspired by my sister who took up running and my brother who started walking. I was also inspired by a guy whom I have never met. We used to pass him on Sunday mornings while we were driving to church. He was often wearing shorts, even in the cooler weather, and had lots of hair tamed by a bandana and he was out there, most every week, pounding the pavement. That guy impressed me with his commitment.

So I had always wanted to meet that guy. 

To just tell him 'thanks for being such an inspiration'

But what are the chances that I will run into him?

Well I would be walking into him and he would be running.

I sometimes saw him out along Upper Wentworth 

and then along Stonechurch but it was at different times and days.

And then I started to feel like a stalker.

Thinking about how I could let him know how much 

his example meant to me.

In my head I called him Robert. 

Because that is what I thought he looked like. 

A Robert. 

Or a Michael. 

He could also be a Michael.

So how is that for weird?

And when you think about it

to talk to him I would have to run. 

Unless I planned on tackling him.
So this is not looking like a promising endeavour.

As it turns out....

I was walking to Swiss Chalet because I was going to have lunch 

with Mom and Leanne and Grace last Friday. 

I walked down Upper Wentworth and then 

I went down Stonechurch.

Huffing down the street with my 

- still unaccustomed to the cold weather - 

body I could tell that someone was coming up behind me.

As I moved over to give the person room I saw that is was 

the bandana dude himself. 

Jogging right past me on my left.

I tried to quickly tell him what an inspiration 

that he was to me for all these years.

That I watched him out in all kinds of weather.

That he was one of my inspiratons to walk 

every street on the mountain.

He slowed somewhat. 

Enough to tell me his name when I asked.

I'm Michael. 

And you keep up with the walking. 

And he was off.

All I have to say is wow.

Holy Ship Batman!

gratitude week 26 and walk blog 16

Gratitude: someone you met.

Today I met someone who I have wanted to meet since she said a handful of words to me in the fall of 2014.

First some background.

From my blog in October 2014...............................
The next day I was trudging down the city streets on my walk.

As I was walking down Acadia a woman, who had just left the house down the street, pulled her car over with her window down and said, “Keep going, you're doing great” and gave me a thumbs up.

As I came up to the house that she had just left another woman was still out on her porch from waving good bye to the woman in the car.

As I passed the house I indicated to the woman standing in front of her house that the other woman had really encouraged me and I appreciated it.

She then said some encouraging words and added, “I am a walker too.”

I replied that I wasn't a walker and this was hard for me.

She said, “Well, keep at it because you look terrific.”

The next morning I woke up a walker and really grateful to that woman.

***************************************

From the material that I gave the reporter in July 2016

for the article on my walking adventure for the Mountain News.

I had been walking down Acadia Street - almost home. A car was pulling out of the driveway of a house up ahead and it pulled up along side me. The woman rolled her window down and called out, “keep it up, you're doing great.” Well that was nice to hear. How great was that? As I came up to the house that she had left I spoke to the woman who had been waving goodbye from her front porch. I told her that the woman in the car had been encouraging and that I really appreciated that. She said something like, “I am a walker too and we all need encouragement.”

I replied, “but you don't understand, I am not a walker and this is really hard for me.”

She then said, “well keep it up, you look terrific, you can do this.”

The next morning I woke up with the urge to take a walk.

I wish I could remember which house it was because I would go back to try to thank those two women because now I am a walker too.

*************************************

And that brings me to today...

I had rather given up on meeting either of those two women from Acadia Street. What are the odds. I could only guess where one of them might live.

I could not remember exactly which house it was. 

I could narrow it down to about five or six houses and 

I was not about to go knocking on doors.

Even if I was sure of the house. 

What do I say without sounding like a lunatic? 

I used to plan my walking routes around coming home that same way so that I would increase my chances of running into her again.

I really wanted the chance to thank her. But once I completed my mission of walking the Hamilton Mountain the routes that I walk now rarely take me down that street. Haven't been down that way for months.

But today I thought that I would walk in that area.

It was recycling day and I could hopefully score some laundry soap container loot while I was out and about.

Wouldn't you know it - the exact time I was walking down that street I saw two ladies that were leaving one of the possible houses it could have been and they were getting into a car.

Now, do I dare ask?

Now, what do I say to them?

"Hey, so did you say something 

to someone 

in September 2014 

when she was walking past your house?"

Well that would be weird.

I gave it a try anyways.

I tried to explain to her how I remembered a conversation 

of over two years ago.

The woman said that yes she was a walker.

It took very little conversation for it to become 

very apparent to me that she was the one.

I had found her. 

I found the woman who's encouraging words 

helped me become a walker.

Words that had a huge impact on my life.

Not just cool. 

Way cool.

Thanks Barb, you made my day.

Imagine

a thought on a Sunday morning

art drop day

marshmallow farming

book-a-poll-ousa at the library

warshing

or wear it when bathing
and save having to wash the garment

way to go dad!

gratitude week 25

Education

Sure am grateful for education.
Also very grateful that an education does not have to come from a school.
That said, plenty of my education did.

=====================

K- most of grade 2 -- Ridge School

rest of grade 2 - grade 6 -- Caistor Central School

first two months of grade 7 -- Hampton Heights

rest of grade 7 and grade 8 -- Calvin Christian School

highschool -- Hamilton District Christian High School

college -- 1 year of 2 year accounting program at Mohawk College

a course at basic computers  (after we got our state-of-the-art 486 computer -- forget where but it was downtown on King Street by Kenilworth

a basic biology course -- from Mohawk College maybe down on Victoria?

a certificate in the creative writing program -- from McMaster University at the old courthouse campus

===============

and that is pretty much it for the formal education
of Anita Eleveld Joldersma

some of us drink at the fountain of education
and some of us merely gargle there

tree bender

                                      and then sitter

sitting hare

Eye Be Fore EEEEEE

a metric ton - and I am lucky that I have no need to give any away

clive staples was brilliant

yup

think that I posted this one on my Facebook page

If I didn't I should

Sometimes this is very true

Sometimes I don't know it
until much later
but I do
so enjoy meeting others
who like the same type of
adventures as I do.

gratitude week 24

now that is a hard one
just learned from, eh?
not enjoyed
or
delighted in
or
were annoyed by
or
trifled with
but learned from

I suppose I will pick the Holy Bible.

A book I have read since childhood.
One that I have read through
- completely through -
- without missing one begat -
two times
once as a teenager
and
once a number of years ago.

I certainly have certain sections
that are more meaningful to me
as they speak to who I am and who I am trying to become.

Lots of favourite verses and I would not begin to start
trying to categorize any of them.

Plenty of wisdom in "the Good Book"
and it is a pattern for which I try to live my life.
Once heard that the bible is Gods love letter to his people.
I like that.

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king."

crazy like a fox

gratitude week 23

favourite physical trait

I said it before and I will say it again.
My calves

Don't know what other gratitude week I had this in
but I do remember reporting that my calves
are about the best body part that I possess.
They are firm and ready for duty.
Enough said

childproofed

and I am kind of glad that they can

parent advice

walk blog 15

A summary of some of my adventures with walking

handed over to the Mountain News Reporter

We will see what he makes of it.

CONFESSIONS OF A STREET WALKER #1

During the summer of 2014 I decided to try to get a little bit healthier.  Knowing that for me it is either - eat less or move more - I thought that moving more might be easier.

I was inspired by my sister who took up running and my brother who started walking. I was also inspired by a guy whom I have never met. We used to pass him on Sunday mornings while we were driving to church. He was often wearing shorts, even in the cooler weather, and had lots of hair tamed by a bandana and he was out there, most every week, pounding the pavement. That guy impressed me with his commitment.

So I decided that on Labour Day I would start with a walk.

I went out my door, down my driveway, across the road. around the block, past Hank and Bev's and back home. Seemed simple enough. The problem was that I wasn't prepared. I wore a pair of slip-on shoes without any socks. I got thirsty and sweaty. When I got home I rather regretted my decision to move more. Blisters were forming and my feet, legs and back hurt.

Walking and I did not get along and I hated doing it.

But I was determined and couple of days later I forced myself out again this time I was a little better prepared. During the first three weeks I trudged around my neighbourhood quite miserably when everything changed.

I had been walking down Acadia Street - almost home. A car was pulling out of the driveway of a house up ahead and it pulled up along side me. The woman rolled her window down and called out, “keep it up, you're doing great.” Well that was nice to hear. How great was that? As I came up to the house that she had left I spoke to the woman who had been waving goodbye from her front porch. I told her that the woman in the car had been encouraging and that I really appreciated that. She said something like, “I am a walker too and we all need encouragement.”

I replied, “but you don't understand, I am not a walker and this is really hard for me.”

She then said, “well keep it up, you look terrific, you can do this.”

The next morning I woke up with the urge to take a walk.

I wish I could remember which house it was because I would go back to try to thank those two women because now I am a walker too.

431 words

CONFESSIONS OF A STREETWALKER # 2

I have been walking since September of 2014. Well I have been walking since I was a year old but you know what I mean. I won't go so far as to say that it is addictive. I confess that I am still lazy at heart but I now really enjoy getting outside for a nice long walk. After a couple of weeks I started tracking my walks on a map. I don't quite know what came over me but at one point I looked at that map and decided that I wanted to walk on every street on the Hamilton Mountain.

At first I walked just from home and back and then from other locations. I parked in front of Leida's and Anne's and Joan's and Danielle's and I walked in their neighbourhoods. I parked at Value Village and at a couple of churches and an empty parking lot and I walked.

I walked in the heat. I walked in the rain. I walked in the snow. I once accidentally walked in a blizzard.

I walked down wonderfully smooth tree lined sidewalks.
I walked down country roads with no sidewalks and only narrow shoulders that forced me to flee into a ditch when a car approached.

I started out walking in silence and now I sometimes listen to a podcast. I am a Christian and I sometimes felt lead to pray for the people who lived on the street I was walking on.

I walked down familiar streets and ones I never knew existed.

Streets that had been here longer than I have and some streets that had not yet been printed on my map.

In some of the surveys I would get all turned around and feel lost.

I got an app that tracked my routes. I wore out one pair of shoes and I am on my next.

I have seen my city from a wonderful viewpoint
and it is one that I recommend everyone take.
Get out there and walk around your own neighbourhood is like and then check out the other neighbourhoods around you.

When I am walking I get the feeling that Hamilton is a pretty great place to live.

366 words

CONFESSIONS OF A STREETWALKER #3

In September of 2014 I decided to walk every street on the Hamilton Mountain.

I began to see neighbourhoods that I had never seen before.

From the busy main streets to quiet charming neighbourhoods I am walking past them all.

I found a court with my name on it. Cool.

I also like looking at the older houses – especially the ones that once stood alone in a field and is now surrounded by multitudious abodes.

Many people put hours of hard work and love into their front gardens and when I walk past these

beautiful oasises I get to enjoy the view.

There seems to be a bit of a protocol when walking. On the busy main streets you do not usually greet the people you pass by but once you are walking in a neighbourhood it seems to change. From polite nods to enthusiastic 'good mornings' there is sometimes a sense that we are friends that just haven't met yet.

You have to pay attention when walking. People can come up behind you – on a bike or running – and you will need to learn how to jump and walk at the same time.

Crossing the streets is not something to do without paying attention. Once when I was crossing Stonechurch Road with the light a driver who was in a rush to make a left turn didn't notice me. I knew it was a close call when I heard a guy in another car curse at the driver who almost hit the mother of my six children.

I always thought that runners were a curious bunch of people.

I also thought that if I did enough walking I would work myself up to running.

Nuh – uh. I was walking down Upper Sherman and a woman was walking on the other side of the street and we were going in the same direction. I started running. Not too fast, mind you. I was just starting and didn't want to hurt myself. When I ran out of steam I started walking again and looked back to see how far ahead of the walking woman I was. To my dismay, I will confess that she, while walking, moved just as fast as I did when I was running. Grrr.

377 words

CONFESSIONS OF A STREETWALKER #4

In September of 2014 I set myself a goal of walking on every street on the Hamilton Mountain. To be practical I try to do errands on my walks instead of taking the car. I also do other things that are, shall we say, slightly more dubious.

I often plan my walk on the recycling day of each neighbourhood. Why you ask? Now here comes the confession part of this story.

Yes I am one of those people – people who help themselves to something you have set by your curb on recycling day. Scavengers, you might call us. Most are collecting returnable bottles or scrap metal.

I collect containers that are suitable for the homemade laundrysoap that I make and I make alot of it.

I run a monthly workshop called 'The Soap Kitchen' where I teach people how to make their own laundry soap. The easy way to explain why I make my own laundry soap is to tell you that with $13.00 worth of ingredients I will have laundry soap for 8 years. Yes, 8 years. So, with the co-operation of Immanuel Christian Reformed Church on Mohawk West the participants and I make lots and lots of laundry soap. One of the challenges of this endeavour is having enough containers to store the 120 liters of laundry soap that we usually make during a workshop. So on my walks I am often found with a large bags full of containers that are swiped from recycling bins. They will be rinsed, labeled and filled with laundry soap to go home with the workshop participants.

I told you that story to tell you this story.

My pilfering activity is slightly disconcerting for one of my six children who is rather dismayed that her mother is “one of those people.”

One day this past spring I was walking in my daughter's neighbourhood on the east mountain on garbage day so I could score some appropriate laundry soap containers from recycling bins. I wondered if I would see her. Just then a blue minivan slowed down and pulled over. The windows were rolled down and a couple of heads popped out that I recognized. It was my daughter taking the kids to school. Now Mothers Day was coming up and I thought of the kind words that I might hear from this daughter of mine. Words that were worth slowing down and pulling over to the side of the road for. Words of love and care for the mother who birthed her.

Instead the barrage that was launched included comments like

“Hey, lady are you going through the garbage again?”

“How could you do this to me?”

“I'm so embarrassed”

This was all said with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.

That said, I am rather proud of my recycling the recycling and being one of those people.

Maybe I should walk around her neighbourhood a little more often.

492 words

CONFESSIONS OF A STREETWALKER #5

In September 2014 I set a goal of walking every single street on the Hamilton Mountain.

I did not tell too many people of this lofty aim that I had set for myself because, honestly, I did not think that I would do it. Not that I couldn't do it - but that I wouldn't. I am rather talented at starting projects and then not finishing them.

My time management abilities and my energy often conspired against me. This crazy Ontario weather sometimes conspired against me. Some of the sidewalks (my side of the street doesn't even have a sidewalk yet) are not very walker-friendly. Traffic can be noisy and even dangerous and don't get me started on the wait times for some pedestrian cross walk lights. My aching body definitely conspired against me. But I kept at it. And soon the pros began to outweigh the cons.

I have just a little bit of OCD - just enough to help keep me on track. I very much enjoyed marking off each street that I had walked down on my Hamilton map. And gradually the streets I walked down were more than the streets I hadn't walked down.

I would occasionally walk downtown and in other places and last fall I wandered around a little bit of Europe but the Hamilton Mountain always called me back. Finish me – it said.

And eventually I did. In July 2016 I walked down the last street to be filled in on my map.

I have a renewed appreciation for my city and its people. Getting out walking to see it all is a great way to spend your time. I heartily recommend it.

So now that I have finished walking every street on the Hamilton Mountain people have asked me what my goal is now. Downtown? Ancaster? Stoney Creek?

I have not decided yet.

But maybe one day on one of my walks I will run into the Sunday-morning-bandana-bedecked-runner whose determination inspired me to start this undertaking or the two women on Acadia Drive whose encouraging words kept me going for many miles (near as I can guess - pretty much about 1,000 miles)

But until I do decide - you might see me out and about on a walk.

If you do, give a wave. Until then.

385 words

gratitude week 22

Something you use everyday.

I pick...water. Yup I am grateful for water.
Pretty much can't live without it.
Certainly don't want to try.
But also don't have a whole lot to say about it.

I like it hot.
I like it cold.
I like it in the pot nine days old.

No wait that is pease porridge.
Which is likely made with water.

Can you tell I am tired?
I also use a bed everyday.
I should go use mine soon.

walk blog 14

I DID IT.

In September 2014 I started walking.
After a couple of weeks I started enjoying it.
Then I started marking out the routes I had taken.
I thought to myself -
wouldn't it be an accomplishment to walk on
every single one of the streets on the Hamilton Mountain?

So I started walking.

At first I walked just from home and then from certain spots.
I parked in front of Leida's and Anne's and Joan's and Danielle's
and I walked in their neighbourhoods.
I parked at Value Village and at a couple of churches
and an empty parking lot and I walked.

I walked in the heat. I walked in the rain.
I walked in the snow. Once walked in a blizzard.

I wore out one pair of shoes and I am on my next.

I walked down smooth wonderful tree lined sidewalks.
I walked down country roads with no sidewalks and only narrow shoulders that forced me to flee into a ditch when a car approached.

I started out walking in silence and now I usually listen to podcasts.

I walked down familiar streets and I got all turned around
and got lost in some of the surveys.

I have seen my city from a wonderful viewpoint
and it is one that I recommend everyone take.
Get out and see what your neighbourhood is like and
what other neighbourhoods are like.

This morning I walked down the last street that filled in my map.

It was East 38th. Which was a street I lived on over 50 years ago.
So the map is filled in.

Where to next?

Makes me want to watch The Lord of the Rings again

Might have posted this before in some form or another
but I think it is worth a second look.

gratitude week 22

Something you use everyday.

Electricity
I use it pretty much everyday.
For the few times a year that the power is out
for a couple of hours I realize
just how grateful I am for it.

From keeping warm or cool
to heating our food
from washing our clothes
to powering our devices
I use it more than I objectively think.

So a tip of the hat to electricity
to the power inventor
the power distributor
and the power user.

Woo hoo.

gratitude week 21

Things you like about summer.

There are plenty of things that I like about summer.

The warm days, 

growing trees and flowers

rain and the hot sun.

Not needing many layers of clothing just

 to keep ones body from freezing.

But to everything there is a season.

And summer is only one of them.

                                     Before you know it.....

Found

This spring I have found some money on my various travels.

Found # 1
March 31
I found a $10.00 bill in the parking lot
of Value Village on a rainy Thursday.

Found #2
May 18
I found a $5.00 bill in the parking lot
of No Frills before buying my groceries.

Found #3
June 4
I found a $5.00 bill in the grass off of the shoulder of the road
across from Food Basics on a warm Saturday morning
while on the way to the library.

It pays to keep your eyes on the ground.

Normal

And sometimes I get away with it.

gratitude week 20

Friend 2

Well, that then assumes that I have more than one friend,
doesn't it?

I suppose I will pick another long ago friend.

I met Anita Westerhof when I first started grade 9.
We were pretty much inseparable for a couple of years there.

She made the first years of high school
so much better than they would have been without her.
We shared a name and a love of laughter.
She was smarter than I was
and socially way cooler than I was.
But she was my friend anyways.

We hung out during school and all summer long.
We went to the CNE and the Beach Boys concert.

                                    next door locker mates

                                hanging out at school

                                          dress up day

We seemed to drift apart after I started dating Martin.
And over the years it appears that we seemed to have lost touch. Her facebook page doesn't seem current 
or else I would make a bit of an effort.
I think that it would be nice to get together 
one day to catch up 
but neither of us has pursued it yet. 

But maybe one day.

Until then, I will always remember,
with gratitude, our friendship.