I Had A Great Day Saturday

What’s wrong with me?

The Start of the Day

I had a great day this last Saturday(yesterday). Something is definitely off. I don’t know if the planets aligned, the sun sent out solar flares and I developed super-powers, or the wine I started drinking is having a positive affect on me.

I woke up in a great mood. I was finally starting to get restful sleep, although I still wake up throughout the night. I spent the first part of the day just putzing around the house, picking stuff up, reading, taking a nap, and writing a little.

Shortly after noon, I headed to the world famous park in my city to get some exercise by walking a famous urban hike that takes you through various parts of the city and across some unique bridges.

At the Park

When I got to the park, I couldn’t believe the number of people out and about. There were multiple street fairs set up in various parts of the very large park, so I decide to delay the hike and just leisurely walk about the fairs and people watch.

The “fairs,” while at different locations, were pretty much the same. There were multiple vendors selling basically the same things. There was the young lady selling homemade masks, there was the older guy drawing caricatures of your face, there was the older lady doing henna tattoos, and, of course, the obligatory drum beating religious groups in robes singing. . .something.

At one of the fountains, there is a big plaza. There was a group of young twenty somethings of all races, wearing outfits from the 1960’s and roller or in-line skating to loud music.

Several kids were zooming around the plaza on electric scooters while bicyclists of all ages rode in circles. It was like watching a traffic circle in a foreign country where they all just instinctively knew where the other would be at all times and narrowly missed each other with a casual nonchalance that belied the normal screaming and cussing at each other we do in our daily traffic.

In another area of the plaza, a young man was preaching about God at the top of his voice. I couldn’t believe the stamina of this guy. He went on forever, never repeating himself.

It was an “I’m alive” moment.

You know, one of those rare moments when the world disappears and you are completely in the here and now. No worries about bills, or the job, or the Covid, or health issues, or what’s gonna happen later.

I basked in the feeling because it had been so long that I had felt like that.

And I think it emanated from my body like a “good” form of radiation. people sensed I was feeling good. I had a grin plastered to my face all day, instead of my usual deadpan stare and suspicious glare.

The Hike

After about an hour, I decided to start my hike. It was about 6 miles of streets, and turns, and canyons, and bridges, and peace, and traffic, and cool breezes, and sweet smells of restaurants cooking their specialties.

It was about three hours of saying “Hi” to everyone I passed, or people stopping next to me while I enjoyed the view from a bridge, and briefly enjoying the view with me. We would part with a “Have a great day!”

I truly feel that my great mood drew people to me. Remember, I’m a big guy. People can be kinda scared of me at first. But kids were running up to me saying, “You’re tall!” Women were smiling at me and saying “Hi!” I even had a few people take my picture because of the hiking gear I had on, along with my safari hat.

After the Hike

After the hike, which ended back where I started, I sat on a bench near the fountain. My feet were a little sore from the new hiking boots, and my body ached in places I thought were dormant. But it was a good pain, the kind you get that wakes you up and tells you that your body and soul are healing.

Life was still in full swing, even as it quickly got darker and cooler. I just sat there, enjoying the moment and the sounds of happy life around me, and resting my tired muscles.

The fountain water was cascading behind me, lovers were walking the park holding hands and hugging, parents were buying their kids that toy balloon on a stick with the LED lights flashing on it for their ride home, and vendors were packing up what was left of their inventory, I’m sure to return on Sunday to start again.

And throughout it all, I saw very few people without masks. Life didn’t stop because the masks were on, no one was being a “Karen,” no one was protesting about their freedom being taken away, and no one was acting any differently than any other day.

People were just enjoying life in the moment.

As was I. Perhaps the healing was finally starting.

What’s wrong with me? Nothing. In fact, things are becoming right, again. I know this may be just one day out of many. I have been feeling yucky for far too long. But I’ll take it. And I will continue with my positive attitude despite the self-sabotage attempts that attack us on a daily basis. It’s nice to finally win one of those battles.

When I got home and eventually went to bed, I laid there and contemplated the day with a smile on my face. I fell asleep quickly with positive thoughts racing through my brain. I didn’t awaken the entire night for the first time in decades. I woke up refreshed and ready to take on the day’s tasks.

And it was wonderous!

Chuck Roast is finally starting to be happy and enjoy his life. Don’t be surprised if he becomes rich and famous because people just want to give him money and stuff.

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