Just a slice of life

Miles has decided he likes going for walks.

This is a big step. It has opened up our little world together ten-fold. Last summer, he still wanted me to carry him everywhere. Generally, I didn't mind all that much, but my rippling pythons would get a little tired after hauling him for 3 or 4 blocks, often necessitating a quick turnaround and the consequent eco-naughty use of the car for very short trips.

I was affectively promoting childhood obesity and global warming in one fell swoop-and I swear, it wasn't even my fault.

Not now. We are heart healthy and carbon neutral. Today, we took a stroll, hand-in-hand, almost a mile into downtown. Done at the meandering pace of elfin four year old legs, it took nearly an hour, but on a rare sparkling 70-degree April afternoon, we were in no particular hurry.

We stopped at the market for a beef stick and a bottle of apple juice, which we shared while resting under the shade of a tall elm tree on the lawn of the old schoolhouse off Main Street.

After finishing our snack, I stood up and told Miles we had to get home to meet Isaac's school bus. He paused, shuffled his feet a little, and actually seemed kind of embarassed.

"My legs are tired," he admitted, looking up at me sheepishly.

"You worked pretty hard. Want a ride home?"

His smile broke wide as the bright sun as I hoisted him over my head and up onto my shoulders. He leaned down, gave me a kiss on top of the head, and let out a delighted giggle when we started moving.

"Giddyup, dad!"

Giddyup indeed.