February 23, 2008

-1- The First Step



The first step is in some ways the longest. It begins the journey, it gets you up and going, and all other steps are subsequent to the first step. And so this is the first step for Walking Points.

Visitors are welcome here to read, agree or disagree, add your own thoughts if you so desire. I reserve the right to remove posts for any reason what so ever. Having stated my policy, I do welcome healthy dialog as it is good for the mind and the soul.

It is my intent to post walking material here on a regular basis. I do know that when I walk, I do not always know what I shall find, but I do know that each walk will be different than the
previous one. I know the day will be a bit shorter ( or longer) than the day before. The sun will be at a slightly different angle in the sky, so the shadows will be slightly different. There may be wind or not, there may be rain or not, it may be hot or not, but it will not be like the previous walk. And so the contents of each post on Walking Points shall be different.


Walking is something that most all primates on the face of the earth share. It seems primates have been walking for at least 300,000 years. That particular first step was an especially long step, as it has had at least 299,999 year and 364 days of subsequent steps ( give or take a few years worth) of subsequent steps. And that my dear friend is what you might call a long journey.

My first walking steps took place probably 59 years ago in a time and place much removed from today. I grew up on a working ranch in Southern Arizona. We were very close to the Mexican border state of Sonora. Walking was a prime form of recreation. I have memories of walking with my grandmother, my father and mother, my brother and my two sisters.

The ranch was about 27,000 acres of private land. It was originally part of a Spanish land grant. Before the Spanish, Native Americans resided there for centuries. And before the Native Americans, fossil remains indicate that all sorts of life came and left. Needless to say, there was plenty of room to walk and lots to places to explore. There were no telephones, no televisions, and no paved roads. Water came from a windmill and electricity came from a generator. Walking was essentially free. But more of that later.

I will be back later for the next step in
Walking Points