I Was Thinking... Summer in the City

All winter Minnesotans dream of warm summer days. Now here it is with 2/3 of our summer season already behind us. So, whenever I have the chance, I want to be outside. It could be sitting on the deck reading, mowing the lawn, or even weeding the garden. However, it is even better if it is on a lake fishing, playing pickleball, or going for a walk or a bike ride.
But whatever the activity is, it beats the housebound existence we experience much of the winter.
On a recent warm quiet summer evening, I climbed on my bike for a relaxing ride. I had no specific destination but just enjoyed the smooth streets and trails and a little breeze if I pedaled fast enough. There is something almost therapeutic about a summer ride or walk in the city. But by city, I mean a small town. I’m not referring to New York, Chicago, Minneapolis or even Rochester. My city is only 6,000 people with one grocery store, one hardware store, and three gas stations. I never made it to our three-block downtown section but just peddled around the residential areas. When you are riding leisurely around town, you can observe a lot.
Since it was a beautiful summer night, I was not alone. Many others took advantage of the still warm night and were out as well.
I encountered numerous individuals or couples taking their dogs for walks. It varied from a single small dog to several large ones. The canine companions seemed to be as content as their owners. Even those without a dog decided it was a perfect time for a walk. Since this is a small town, almost everyone I encountered either said, “hi,” nodded or just smiled. One young gal in a car at the intersection even waved to me. And of those I met, I really only knew one person.
I passed a park where a father was acting as the catcher as his son pitched. There was a soccer game going on surrounded by fans in lawn chairs. Of course, I encountered numerous rabbits who only hopped a few feet away since they really had no fear of people. The main sound that broke the summer silence was lawn mowers trying to keep up with our fast-growing grass.
I did occasionally hear a dog bark as they announced their territorial domain. But other than that, it was a tranquil experience. For those that stayed at home, it still was a perfect night to sit on their decks, porch, or even in a lawn chair in the driveway.
Since I’ve lived here for over 45 years, I’m pretty familiar with the city. However, when you either walk or bike around, you see a lot more. You aren’t whizzing by at 30 mph, so you have time to notice things. For the most part, you get to admire the pride with which most people care for their houses and lawns. Houses are well painted, lawns manicured, and almost everyone had adorned their place with some type of flowers. You can see why the local greenhouse was so busy last spring. There are always exceptions, but for the most part, our little city is kept up very well.
Another advantage of walking or biking is that you get to “spy” a little as you move by. Because it was such a nice night, many garage doors were wide open. While the main point of a garage is to store a car, many have developed dual purposes. One garage looked like an attempt to start a car repair business. A car was up on blocks and numerous parts were scattered about.
The open door of another garage showed a very active family. There were numerous bikes, baseball bats, and a variety of sports equipment. A couple of garages had not had a car inside for quite some time. Of course, there was also the perfect garage with neat cabinets and everything in its place. Now I know why I keep my door down most of the time.
I know the days of summer are fleeting since the Vikings have already played several preseason games. I realize the number of rides ahead are limited. So, take advantage of those precious days before they are all gone.
Did You Ever Wonder? — If a child refuses to take a nap, are they resisting a rest?