Belle was a bad girl last week. Unprovoked, she rushed her little friend Velvet, a black miniature poodle, and bit her on the nose! (drew blood) Velvet's daddy was understandably upset and made comments about it not even being safe to walk his dog in her own neighborhood. I apologized profusely, offering to pay any veterinary bills and vowed to abandon our neighborhood walks, taking Belle elsewhere. In other words...This town is not big enough for the both of us and our dogs!
So, we are on to discovering new territories! This week we have explored the grounds surrounding the Galleria Mall in Centerville and Eagle Springs. Today, we visited an old friend's neighborhood, Magnolia Court.
Chris gave us good directions after we chatted and I left my car in front of her house. On to adventure! She said to go to the end of the block take a right and come down to Sweet Bay, walking by her home and following it all the way around, making it a 1.25 mile walk. However, when I got to Sweet Bay, a left turn was more alluring; the road looked wider and shadier. I thought I'd just go around the circle in a different direction and take the shade first.
After half a block, I hit another street, Royal Oak...Chris hadn't mentioned it but it must go around and hook up with Sweet Bay again, so off we went. Now, in the beginning, we walk slow because we have to stop and sniff every yard. I think after awhile this must get old because then we are on the lookout for squirrels and other critters that Belle's radar can locate, so we are walking a little more briskly. Toward the end, she slows down, looking for water, usually provided by sprinkler sytems or ditches that may store some previous rainfall.
Royal Oak turns into River View Trail...very beautiful, but I start to get worried and take side streets that end up in cul-de-sacs. I wonder, should I turn around? Nah...it will hook up again! It's quite a long road and I know I am going in the wrong direction to get back but every beautiful yard has tall fences. I tried for directions from several yard workers who did not understand english. Eventually we reach Sandefur Road where there is road work happening. I ask the workers where HiWay 96 is. They said a few miles away and directed me to take a left on the next road and keep going. Inside I am screaming..."Can you give me a ride?"
Okay, I am on Addison, a long road with no shade and no sprinklers. Belle is getting tired and trying to lie down. My legs feel like huge, heavy tree trunks. After athe equivalent of 2 Fargo, North Dakota blocks, an SUV leaves a house and I flag it down. They give me directions and I ask the time...11:11...I say, oh my gosh, I started out about 9:30 for a 1 hour walk! Inside I am screaming, "Can you give me a ride?" They don't offer.
At the next stop sign, I am stumped...was it a left or a right? I ask a van lady who has stopped. She thinks I should take a right and I am on something like Sawtooth Road. A man on this road is watering his black garbage bags by the curb. I ask him about my destination....he is slurring his words....I keep walking. At the next stop sign I see SWEET BAY! Thank You Jesus! I take a right and wonder if I am going to be going the 1.25 miles Chris had mentioned, but it is just 3 blocks and there is our car. The last 3 blocks are tough for Belle but she revs up when she sees the car, as do I! I start it up and the time is 11:45. What a good walk we had!
Around the end of River View Trail, I was pondering my predicament, wondering why I left my cell phone in my purse when I did have pockets...sheer stupidity. Then I wondered why I didn't turn around before I hit Sandefur, which had crossed my mind quite a bit...sheer hopefulness. I thought about my initial decision to defy the good directional advice from Chris and I realized I had taken the 'wide way' instead of the 'narrow path'. I had taken the way that looked more pleasureable and comfortably shady, rather than the sunny, presumably more boring way.
I realized this is just like me, to pick pleasure before work and find that it was more work in the end. There is danger in exploring new territory when one does not listen to the wise counsel of people who have been there. Will I learn my lesson? I'm sure my Lord is always asking this to Himself...will she ever learn her lessons? I rest in His grace and mercy as I try to navigate my life. Poor Belle just gets pulled along, having no say in the matter!
