Maria and the dogs love to walk in the deep woods; I can’t do that right now because of my feet. We used to walk up the hill every morning together, but for now, we go on different walks.

The dogs and Maria love the woods and need the exercise, and I would never do anything to keep her from her videos, poems, and pictures.

This week, for the first time in some months, I can walk again up the hill, so we both get to walk where we love, and when we can, we rendezvous.

This morning, the woods she and the dogs were walking in had a path leading up to the top of the hill I was coming up; it was about a mile away.

She arranged to call me on her cell when she started coming around on one of her trails, and I drove over to the bottom of the hill, parked my car, and started up.

I’m walking well, no angina, shortness of breath, but my feet are pretty used to it yet, but I’m getting there. Halfway up the hill, I looked up to see a slim figure with two small animals in front of her.

The dogs saw me long before I saw them and came rushing down the hill.  Then, they turned and rushed up the hill, then down again. This was a new game and they loved it. How sweet is their love of life.

It made a beautiful walk even more attractive. We all met up at the top; Maria walked me down – arm in arm – to the car, and she and the dogs made their way back up to the hill and were soon home.

Zinnia and Fate are two wonderful walking dogs; they stay close to one another, always stay close to us, and pause when we take a photo or just catch a breath.

I am very grateful to be retaking my walks. My sore legs will catch up to my heart.

It was a sweet reunion; I especially loved being able to walk with Maria again; that is one of my favorite things on the earth to do.