Thursday, March 15, 2012

Walking With Walter

      I have an  81 year old neighbor who is a retired college psychology instructor. Walter is very active and one thing he does a lot of in the winter is walking. Walter firmly believes that physical activity is very good for you. He always walked with his wife but this winter she said it was too icy so Walter walks by himself.


     I was out walking a few days ago and met Walter. Walter just said, "Come walk with me." Now you can't turn Walter down. He said, "We'll just go as far as the mall." Well, we got to the mall and Walter just continued walking. I didn't say anything because Walter is and interesting guy to listen to.


     Now Walter is a fairly passionate person. First, on his list are his wife and children. After that it's psychology, gardening and bees. Walter reads two newspapers a day and probably watches several news casts so he is intensely interested and knowledgeable about current affairs. Walter trims trees and shrubs. He knows how to trim and when and why. He trimmed his honey suckle hedge in January because that was the proper time to trim . So there he was in the deep snow and below zero temperatures of January. He has about 20 beehives and is a walking encyclopedia on bees. Walter spends a good part of the summer looking after bees. Walter has a large vegetable garden which is very successful. Walter is a thinking man. He thinks about how bees behave and how plants grow and why. 


     I've known Walter for a long time. So the other day when we walked we covered a wide range of topics. When Walter really gets interested in something, he stops walking. So the walk is not only long in distance but also in time. So we talked about Walter's walking, icy conditions, conditions in Greece, my children, gay and lesbian people and probably as many topics again that I have forgotten. On most things Walter and I are on the same page but he's very knowledgeable so I learn a lot by listening to him. The only things we disagree on is capital punishment and sentencing  for crime. Walter would execute all murderers and put people in jail and throw away the keys.


     So the moral of my story is that when you walk with an eighty one year old it is enjoyable and enlightening. Now I'm kind of advertising for myself because I'm coming up on the 81 sooner than I think. So in  a few years I will be a good person to walk with.

24 comments:

  1. You're already an interesting person to walk with - right here in blog land.
    I like seeing people out walking. It gives me hope for the future, in a weird way.

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  2. Great metaphor of walking on the blog. I like it. It gives me another perspective to the writing.

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  3. Colin (HB) Brisbane. AustraliaThursday, March 15, 2012

    Hi Keith

    Interesting post on Walter.
    He and I would get on very well as you might have gathered from my every now and then e-mails. But I don't believe in the Canadian winter, I would go walking with Walter - ha ha!
    Cheers
    Colin

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    1. Interesting thing about Walter is that his opinions are well supported and he makes you support yours.

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  4. I felt like I took a walk with you and Walter & I didn't even leave my chair! I also didn't get cold because it was 82 degrees here today. I've got to get walking! Thanks for the encouragement.

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    1. Comments have been that readers felt they were on the walk...interesting.

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  5. What a wonderful post! If you are anything like Walter sounds, I'd walk with you gladly :) Mo

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    1. Hey, I just follow Walter around. I'm more of a listener.

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  6. Yes, Red, your writing is very companionable, like we were walking together. We are all hopefully moving towards old age, and being active and fit is the proper way to do it. Walter knows!

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    1. Yes DJan, I always feel that I have been along on your mountain walks. Much of the territory is very similar to what we have here. I don't know about you but I am in old age and it's fun.

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  7. I imagine that you are already an interesting person to walk with...

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    1. I'm more of listener and my last comment is more my sense of humor.

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  8. Swing by and we'll walk together. We'll only go as far as the mall. ;)

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    1. Would love to swing by because I know what I can learn from you....photography

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  9. Walter sounds a great friend to have! Has he had any opinions or observations on Bee Colony Collapse Disorder. My Dad had bees and I learned to appreciate the little winged critters! I enjoy hearing about someone like Walter who has bees and likes to talk about them!

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  10. Walter sounds like a good guy to know! And it's okay to agree to disagree, so long as you're respectful. :) And walking is such great exercise, particularly if you do it regularly.

    I bet you'd be plenty interesting to walk with too, Red. :)

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    1. Walter walks regularly. I don't. I have other things I do. There's respect and then there's also backing up what you think with some information.

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  11. Walter's told me about bee health but I can't remember. I will have to ask him again.

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  12. Red you're also a wealth of information and right now you'd be a fantastic walking buddy. I must say that I'm rather surprised that Walter is for capital punishment, I say this because it was my understanding that some or most psychologists and psychiatrists believe that people can change, or wait... is that social workers who believe this? ;-) Have a fantastic weekend... enjoy your walk! Cheers.

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    1. I am also surprised at
      Walter's view on capital punishment. I agree with you that the social science people are very anti capital punishment. I would certainly like to walk with you on your Australian journey but the way you post it seems like I am walking with you.

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  13. What fun, I bet Walter enjoyed the walk as much as you did..he sounds really interesting I agree with him about capital punishment..there would be less crime:)

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    1. Walter enjoys people whether they're walking or having coffee.

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  14. I would love to have a walking partner like Walter. I have mixed feeling about capital punishment. I fear too many innocent people are executed. I've been on several juries, no murder, and I'm not sure I trust most jurors with a life and death decision; too many biases.

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  15. Red, I love visiting you!
    Much fun!
    I love my elders!

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