Mom (walks into the family room): Kepler, would you like to go for a walk?
Kepler (engrossed in iPad): NO. (pause) Walk? Yes!
Granted, the park is only 1/4 mile away, but with his little legs, it’s either walk AT the park, or walk TO the park. So, we rev up the engine and drive over to the park.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there was at least one person at the park who was judging me for taking notes on my phone. But, what’s a blogger to do?
Going for a walk with Kepler
Notice the pond
Wave to the ducks
Look for rocks to throw into lake
Realize all rocks are cemented into ground
Balance on curb, holding mom’s hand
Stop at three way intersection
Choose most intrepid path
Hear crying child, show concern
Jump
Hold hands with mom
Admire the clouds
Exalt at the sound of the birds
Shuffle feet on path
Stumble and go down on one knee
Kick mean rocks that caused fall
Notice sound of dogs barking
Take detour down path to bird blind
Command mom to stay put
Allow mom to continue walking
Gleefully fling rocks into woods
Stop to peek in hollow log “Hewwo?”
Whip a stick into the woods
Joy at the dog run
Offer self up for a good licking
See a bench
Sit on a bench for one second
Run up the path all the way to the top of the hill
Express wonder and awe at sight of playground
Climb around
Express wonder and more awe at sight of friendly dog and friendly dog family
Go off trail and bushwack up the hill
Reach saturation point for enthusiasm
Explore what is in and under the leaves
A few smiles
OK we can go, can I please have a hug?
By which I mean, you can carry me back to the car, thanks.
Hugs and kisses all the way back.
Going for a walk with Kepler
ClearingSpace4Joy 
What a brilliant story, Susan! And that little pigtail hair bit in the back is too too precious. (out of touch, out of America Grandma misses important trends)
What a treasure to read. It really was almost being there. If sighing a lot counts, I was.
Yes, AtoA fun. Yes, social media! Tomorrow I'm doing H = Hashtags. Learned something new this week, v excited. Anyway know little about Haberdashery or Herringbond. lol
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So cute!! Those little moments are the ones that last forever 🙂
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Beautiful, Susan, just beautiful. My inner child was right there with you and Kepler!
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I love walking with my kids too, nice post 🙂
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I love the way you post the photos with your words. So cool!
Blogging A to Z Challenge http://www.shellygoodmanwright.com/apps/blog/show/25492250-g-is-for-guilty
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Lovely, lovely, Susan.
I was right there with you, and could see it all unfolding in front of me.
My very favourite bit (if I can remember it verbatim):
“Offer myself up for a good licking”
[licking by a dog, that is]
I love the photos, too.
~~ from Mary Ann, on HM
(and yay for providing an “anonymous” option, for folks like me!)
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Oh, THIS is how it was:
“Joy at the dog run
Offer self up for a good licking”
🙂
~~ Mary Ann on HM
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Love!
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