It started in March 2018. Much cooler outside but no snow. I had to exercise, I said to my self. So with a borrowed track pants my trusted black jacket and shoes which were good but showed signs of wear, I started walking. Initially it was only till the staircase that connected to the main road foot walk. To the left was Edison station and later library, to the right is my route. I pass an auto garage that continuously has myriad cars and vehicles then a "pepper farms " (a cozy Korean store that sold vegetables at higher rates than market, their accessibility being their selling point). A short few steps and I come across a busy T junction where on my right was a bit rundown but working inn called stelton restaurant. Just in front of which is a busy road and then a fence from which a small preschool and a computer institute is seen. ( I came to know about a recently opened Hindu center tucked inside). I walk straight to no mans land where the wild grasses and plants grow on right (along with hidden beer cans, coffee cups, clothes, a flush tank and such other harvest waiting to be picked up) and to the left is same busy road. Then comes a small road and then a beautiful meadow, lush green even in approaching winter. It is here that I see flocks of ganders. Some older, some just born this summer. I again come to a T junction where the main road joins a semi busy but internal road. I turn a right (again) , and start walking. To my left is the same meadow now joined by small bushes and shrubs (no harvest here) to my right, just next to the road are small group of shops, having a coin laundry (where I smell lovely but strong clean detergent smell sometimes), a unisex hair saloon called Krishna where every one in our family has haircuts and few other stores, some have small groups hanging out together always, having 'Sutta ' and coffee. The shops end a big old age rehabilitation center or maybe hospice exists called JFK hartwick is there. Right side my community has already started. I trudge ahead. I saw a lot of fall colors some weeks back but now trees are barren. If I go early in the day, then I smell tea. If later in the day, then meals like sambar, curries ( I understand a chicken or egg curry getting cooked and ponder who is cooking it), I hear cooker whistles sometimes. I walk ahead to come across a mother community on the opposite side which looks well maimed and pretty. I see the empty space between foot walk and the building at my side to see squirrels playing a game of tag, some of them running about, or shall I say jumping, and some over stuffing their mouths with oak tree seeds. Looking like me when I am hungry and busy. (Which happens very few times now a days). Then the main entrance to the community comes. I can take a right and continue but I walk straight ahead. After walking for a few more minutes, I reach a dead end and I turn back. This dead end has a digital hoarding flashing a past road work. (Read June 2018),. I walk now almost in reverse. And soon enter the main entrance. I reach the place where in summers, visiting relatives of families sit and chat, mornings and late evenings. I soon reach my lane, where I turn a left. I walk through the mazes of building s rather than walking straight home. Seeing a park getting repaired and where I used to get siddha in the left. Seeing the trees now naked but come spring get fat with white pollen rich flowers that make me sneeze. And later lush green cover. I pass the old building where we used to stay. I come towards my current building. Sometimes I see a deer or two passing by. Sometimes ducks who go in the small brook behind my building for a swim. I come home, exhausted. I either then have a quick bite of soothing I fancy or start work, so that
I get some respite till pilla comes back at home from school.
