The critters of Johnson Lake

    A beautiful morning here at Concordia on the Lake.  I got out fairly early for my walk on the lake path.  There are signs posted along the bank stating that the walking path is 1.4 miles around.  I have not got "up" to the whole thing, but go what I think is about 1/3 of the way, take a short rest stop and come back.  One day I go left, one day I go right.  Anyhow, if my stopping places are indeed 1/3 around, that makes my journey .93 mile.  Add to that the walk from my apt. door to the elevator and out the back door, and around the "switchback" down to the path, I figure it for close to a mile. 

     I made the trip 3 times this week. 

     Monday we went to the Red Rocks Amphitheater with the Fab 50’s for a "tour" and lunch.  Although there wasn’t a lot of walking, there was much standing around, and what walking we did was up and down a hill.  If you have ever been to Red Rocks, you know it’s a doozy of a hill.

     Thursday we went with the Concordia people to a baseball game downtown.  There was plenty of walking even with door-to-door bus service.  The game, by the way, was a bust.  Big rain delay, so our activity director declared that the buses were leaving.  It was mid-seventh inning and no score.  We left the stadium where we were seated perfectly dry under the overhang until Mrs. self-appointed assistant director demanded that we leave and go outside to wait for the bus.  It took at least half an hour for the buses to get back to the gate.  We were able to stand under a bridge, though, so we didn’t get too wet.  Standing is very hard, though, for most of us.

     But back to my topic.  At the far end of my walk, I sat above the beach and watched a blue heron stand and look out over the water until he got nervous and took off for the trees.  Back home, after making Papa and myself some bacon and eggs, I was compelled to sit out on the deck and watch the critters.  There was a muskrat swimming along.  Lots of fish jumping.  Many joggers, walkers, skaters, bikers passing to and fro beneath me, many with dogs of every shape, size and color leading them along.  Besides the heron and a couple of ducks, birds this morning included swallows swishing around, keeping the insect population under control.  A light breeze.  I sat there for an hour, sipping my coffee and tending to my one pot of flowers and thinking how lucky I am. 

     Did I mention it is a beautiful morning?