Send to Kindle
It’s June. Half the year is shot. I was glad to see winter melt into spring, but the worst of Virginia weather is before us with its heat and humidity. Summer is not my favorite time of year here. Spring and the fall are my favorite seasons at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. On the best of days the temperature is just right, somewhere in the mid-seventies. There’s usually a nice breeze and lots of sunshine. Often afternoon showers water my garden for me.
I rise early, walk the dogs, then I leave the dogs behind and go on what I call a “Hood Hike.” I pick up my speed and get my heart pumping, rather than lollygagging around every shrub and blade of grass, so that Max and Sam can read the doggie newspaper.
There are lots of hills in the neighborhood. They work just about every muscle in my lower body. A former neighbor named the worst one, “Killer Hill.” I don’t even like driving up it. It feels like I’m shooting for the moon. But it’s rather short and sweet and I try to do it a couple of times a week to really get my heart going. I’ve seen several people run up, but I’d rather die.
This past winter on one of our worst snow days, the kids in the area built moguls on that snowy incline, sliding down on sleds and trays over, and through their hand-made obstacle course. Parents stood at either end guarding the route so that nobody would get hit by a car. Most of us never use that hill under those conditions anyway. It’s too steep and would be impossible to navigate unless you have four-wheel drive.
With warmer temperatures just days away, I’m beginning to plan my summer exercise strategy. On hot days I’ll get up even earlier to walk. But if I can’t get myself out of bed, I’ll use my old cross-trainer in my air-conditioned studio. I could also walk at dusk, but sometimes it’s even too hot then.
For a few years now I’ve often spent hot days cooling off in my neighbors pool. But they’re filling it in now. I don’t blame them a bit. It’s a lot of work to keep a pool clean. They also have two young grandchildren who visit frequently. Those kids would need to wear life preservers all the time to keep the adults from stressing out. However, there is a very nice city pool nearby that I’ll probably start going to during lap time, when there are no kids making waves.
Exercising my mind, I’ll spend several hours each day sitting at my computer as I rewrite my memoir. I have already gotten started and am having lots of fun with it. I enjoy this part of the process even more than writing the first draft. Now I have all the puzzle pieces before me. All I have to do is put them back together again in a new way. It’s like working on one of those huge, complicated jig-saw puzzles you open up when you visit the seashore during the late fall or early winter and the wind is howling. It’s too cold to walk on the beach and you don’t feel like reading.
It is easier said than done, of course. There is always lots of frustration included in the fun. But when the puzzle is finally put together in just the right way, it spells out masterpiece.
What do you do to exercise your body and brain during the heat of summer?
When I lived in Tennessee, I depended on the pool for exercise. It’s important for my health that I exercise in the late afternoon, and swimming was my favorite thing to do at that time, although I also had access to a quiet, air-conditioned gym. Now that I’m in New England, near the ocean, it’s generally cool enough to walk in the late afternoon. I also do Pilates and Yoga (on a 3-day rotation).
I used to live in Northern Vermont, so I know about those wonderful cool afternoons., Tracy. That is not the case here in Virginia. so far we’ve had a fabulous spring with lots of afternoon walks, but today the heat is up and so is the humidity.
I love Pilates and Yoga and do one class each a week. They both seem to help me stay in balance.
Sounds like my summer thoughts in NC, only turn the temperature up 5 to 10 degrees. The one thing I’ve missed most living here are the mountain or ocean breezes. It is often still as well as suffocating here. Not this Spring, however, as you said it’s been glorious and long and wonderful for long walks. I live in a neighborhood of hills and climb one everyday with my puppy companion. I like your idea of going it alone and getting some real aerobic time in. I will add that to my list of summer activities. I try to remind myself that sweating is a great natural detox and plugging into an audio book or music usually gets me through the worst of it. Walking is perfect for me in so many ways, from raising my metabolism to elevating my thoughts and creativity either silently or plugged in to another’s voice. Would enjoy a dip in a pool now and again. (I can’t wait to read your memoir! I enjoy the re-writing process too. Sometimes too much!)
Dorothy,
I hate sweating, too. But it’s part of living in these temperate climes. I think walking is the best exercise, especially as we advance in age. For me it’s particularly great when I trying to do some problem-solving or feeling down.
I can’t wait to get my book published so that everyone can read it. I’m taking my time rather that rushing the re-writing. When I hurry too much, I often screw up!
LOVE that photo of the pool, Joan! I could just dive in and spend the afternoon floating around.
Can’t wait to read your book!
Yes, that a nice looking pool. Wish it were mine. I can’t wait to get my book in print so that you and everyone else can read it!
Joan … I envy your love of exercise … I do it, but under duress, and mostly because I have the good sense to pick friends as well as a partner that love exercise. The only exercise I enjoy enough to do on my own is swimming (learned to swim before I learned to walk!), and fortunately, I now live in a place with a pool!
Lucky you to have a pool. We had one once but it was lots of work. Our slaves grew up and went away so we decided no more pools. 🙂
Joan – Do you have mosquitos where you live at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains? In my mind I see you running to stay ahead of them! I admire that you take on “Killer Hill” a few times a week — that arduous exercise is probably helping to keep you very much alive.
Indoor exercise for us is yoga and tai chi.
Outdoor exercise is dog-walking/hiking and bike riding.
Laurie, we do have some mosquitos but not a lot here. And if my husband is with me they bite him instead of me. I do indoor exercise too, pilates and yoga. Lots of fun.
Hi, I do believe this is a great site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return once again since I book marked it.
Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.
Awesome articles you post on your blog, i have shared this article on my facebook