Hunter Farm

Most mornings I wake up somewhere between 5 and 8, get up, and make a pot of green tea with a “squozen” half lemon or lime. I like to make it in a glass pot, so I can see the transfusions take place. The gentle green caffeine gets my brain crackling with enthusiasm, or, at the very least, energy, for what lies ahead.

Just in case something has transpired on my World Wide Web during the night, I often check email first thing. If new correspondence inspires me I tend to respond immediately. Often Uncle Bob will have sent me recent edits from our Winds of Grace 4 DVD Yoga Project. I tend to review them straightaway, make notes of changes, and email them back for one of our several-times-weekly sessions.

Somewhere between 7 and 9 AM, Ben and I usually head out for our morning Constitutional. Although I am often the one to keep him waiting while I do the above, somehow I am usually ready to walk out the door first, so I call out “I’ll meet you in the garden!” and rumble down our short steep stairs with all possible alacrity, given my big, shoed feet and the gnome-like dimensions of the place.

During growing season I check on the flowers’ progress, which is my department; and enjoy seeing the developments in Ben’s vegetables. I do very little garden maintenance. Instead I encourage the plants to grow by touching and verbally admiring them, and making note of their progress to Ben. It isn’t unusual for varmints to steal in during the night and dig holes, eat bulbs, vegetables or flowers, knock over my seven-tiered copper fountain, or disarrange my rock collection, which I right and re-arrange, differently each time.

We leave our pleasant, hammock-strung yard and walk around a few neighborhoody corners, then left through Raymond Park, across Walden Street, down a slight decline through the Lincoln Way Projects, across the Quaker elementary school playing field, across Sherman Street at the walk light, and uphill toward Cambride’s summit at our largest, 29-acre Danehy Park, created from a garbage dump, (resulting in the hill).

Ben heads off on one of the curving tarmac paths, looking cute at a low trot. I step down the other way, through the grass, toward the marsh. During the Summer I wear my water-ready Teva sandals, and, at other seasons my waterproof Merrell Continuum boots. Down by the marsh, the Summer cattails are tawny and purple; they rustle, blow, or stand still. After heavy rains the grassy area by the marshland is flooded; I enjoy splashing through the shallow waters.

Satisfied with whatever sloshing and viewing of flora and fauna is available at the moment, I head back up and over the hill, cut across the striped maroon oval of the 4-lane race track, and onto my second refuge, the Astro-turf playing field. Here I swing around 5 – 12 times depending on my time commitments, mood, and the duration of Ben’s run. Sometimes I skirt impressive soccer games peopled primarily by Hispanic players, coaches and spectators. Most mornings I am loosely accompanied by other walkers and runners. I often call my father and talk with him on my hot pink cell phone for several minutes as I traverse the oval.

Ben eventually appears on the track, runs around it a few times, and signals that it’s time to walk back to the house, which we do through the Walden Street Apartments grounds, passing the swimming pool, where we fantasize of one day having a resident friend who will invite us over to swim on sunny Summer afternoons.

About five days a week I have Yoga teaching responsibilities outside the home. When they are in the morning I may need to leave the house by 8:30 or so; other days I am around the house for several hours before going out. Some days I have no scheduled responsibilities. These are my favorites!

Ben and I have a more recent habit of going to Bally’s after our walk, which originated in his needing to use the weight machines to help work out his shoulder problems, and my desire to build more aerobic activity into my day. I read a book on the bike and then do Yoga by the swimming pool, where it is pretty quiet, although I occasionally get splashed. It wakes me up!

“Get things done, have some fun, build your health” is Ben’s and my motto. My tendency toward work and his toward socializing, combined with our shared commitment to good health are guiding lights in our relationship. Our food preferences vary so it is common for us to eat some different foods at the same shared vegan meals, which we catch together when our varying schedules coincide. We like to hold hands and be silent for a moment before we begin.

I am semi-regularly inspired to write, photograph or to play with Yoga and movement, which can absorb me for many hours as though I am in “no time”.

In the evening, I may stretch out and watch a good movie, go out to live it up with friends, or just hang around and do more Yoga to increase my bliss index factor.

Thanks for asking!