i parked along a beautiful winding road
walked a few hundred feet
to find this unmarked path
winding its way in switchbacks
all the way up to the top of this park
with natural steps made of roots and branches
and proceeded to climb
in my new shoes
1/2 size larger than the 1st pair that i’d worn out
now a size 6 1/2 instead of a solid 6
it was my first time out in them
and quickly found that
i was not yet used to the extra bit of shoe
suddenly it felt like i was walking in
giant slippery clown shoes or snorkel flippers
it was awkward
i kept kicking things
lots of near misses
almost tripping over things
until i finally really tripped on a large tree root
way up high
and found myself sliding
all the way back down to the bottom of the hill
like a scene from an old spaghetti western
i’m sure i yelled out something
and
stopping again right back where i’d started
near the beautiful road
where a cyclist happened to be riding by
who stopped to see if i was okay
just a bit dusty and surprised really
i stood up once more
and used my giant paddle feet to climb again
this time making it all the way to the top and into the park
none the worse for wear
and i am happy that i was not hiking in the grand canyon.
—
“here at the fountain’s sliding foot, / or at some fruit tree’s mossy root, /
casting the body’s vest aside, / my soul into the boughs does glide.”
-andrew marvell
—
kuebler langford park, ann arbor, mi, usa
Glad you are safe and undefeeted.
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👠👠
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Sounds more like a Bethslide. 🙂 Glad no Beths or roots were damaged.
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True- and no harm no foul
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Giant paddle feet? 6 1/2! My (ahem) “sturdy foundation” is held up with a size 11 😐.
Funny how much of a difference that half a size made huh? Such a cute story 😊
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it’s all relative, isn’t it? i watch young kids trying to figure out their body in space and this felt much the same –
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I’m glad you were OK. I hope you adjust to your new shoes before your next hike–or get another pair. I don’t think I need the excuse of too big shoes to trip like that though.
I like the Marvel verse. 🙂
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thanks, and i’m getting more used to them. (famous last words )
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😉
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When I lived in Nanjing I went hiking on Purple Mountain every Sunday, weather permitting. Of course, there were no untrodden paths. It was the most popular hiking place for a city of 8-10 million people.
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i’ll bet it was striking
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It was a lot of fun. One of these days I’ll do a post about Purple Mountain. Almost every time I was there I would see a guy taking a picture of his girlfriend, so I’d offer to use his camera a picture of both of them together. Half the time they would then want to take a photo with me, too.
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And this is why I don’t go hiking! 😉
>
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c’mon, i’ll get you out there one day –
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Way to give it another go with your new and improved big-girl (ha!) shoes, Beth.
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yes, it was a big move )
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That would be the story of my life. They call me the boo boo queen! Glad you were unscathed.
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aww – thanks )
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🙂
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Wow, got a free ride through the express lane…. glad you are ok, Beth!!
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Thank you )
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💖
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that’s a great way to look at it, erika –
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LOL… but I am really glad that you are good!
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👠👠
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🎢 😂😂
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Glad you survived your forest (part slip-n-slide) hiking adventure. Beautiful photo!
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It
I really was fine)
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thanks, it was a forest slip ‘n slide for sure –
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)))
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Wow what an adventure!
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You could call it that )
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I am glad you are well 🙂 …I missed adding that.
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I have tripped a lot in new shoes like that and tripped over tree roots too. That fall would be scary and I am glad you came out unscathed. Very good post and little poem fit well with it. I love the image of the path too. 🙂
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thanks so much, it was so funny, i wasn’t expecting an adjustment period )
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glorious….
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thanks, susie –
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LOL thanks for sharing 🙂
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))
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The lovely quote really was touching, especially, “My soul into the boughs does glide.”
So, so glad you didn’t hit your head, topple in a different way down, (sprain or twist ankles. . . 😦 😦 !! )
An aside comment: I used to be a size 5-5 1/2, then became a 6, alas am usually a seven in shoes.
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yes, i’m still a 5 1/2 in some, it depends on the shoe, interesting isn’t it? my feel apparently still want to be 5 1/2.
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I still get teased for having little feet, but Felicia’s feet are more like yours. I blame standing and walking on cement floors the past nine years for their wanting “space” to spread! 😀
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Makes perfect sense and I am the only one in my family)
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Makes me think of that (Randy?) singer who talked about “little feet, little hands…” Making fun of small people, tongue in cheek.
It’ll come to me. . . or you! 😊
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oh, yes – randy newman )
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Yeah, I had those kind of landslides too…
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)))
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Pingback: My Picks Of The Week 2017 – #36 | A Momma's View
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
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Oh my goodness! And good thing not the Grand Canyon indeed. Way to have perspective. I’d think your bottom would be a bit sore from that rough slide, though.
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oh, face down )
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Oooh. Eek!
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I’ve heard it mentioned (possibly, I made it up) that a reason our feet grow as we get older is gravity. That is along with all the other things gravity does to the body as we age 🙂
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)))
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