A not so perfect, yet perfect fall day.

On a picture perfect day, filled with sunshine and decorated by autumn's pallet, we attempted a Bik-athon (26 miles) on a newly opened trail.  The day did not go as planned; however, it was filled with many Slices of Life!

• I could write about the very late start (caregiving issues),
• OR about the near perfect weather and Crayola infused leaves that fluttered in the breeze. 
• I could write about a the incredibly crowded path,
• OR about the magnificent bridge over a busy road. 
• I could write about the crisp air on my face,
•  OR about the flat tire(s) that eliminated "gliding" and added "walking" to my plans.   
• I could write about people, of all shapes, sizes, ages, kinds who clogged the walkway,
• OR about the magical way they orchestrated into an October dance with the falling leaves.
• I could write about the breadth of humanity in strollers (single, double, triple, quadruple), wheelchairs, with canes and walkers,
• OR of the children, skateboarders, dogs, and joggers who shared the path with walkers, photographers, sketchers, painters, lovers, and leaf peepers.
• I could write about the young man, the one I almost ran over,
• OR I could write of him dropping to his knees in the middle of a Walkway over the Hudson to ask his girlfriend, "If I was a pauper and you were a lady, would you marry me?" 
• I could write about the geese dropping into a pond or the deer that crossed as October's darkness,
• OR that we returned home safely in spite of many changes to our plans.    
• I could write about carefully noting the time and turning back before darkness,
• OR about living, for at least a moment, on the "wild side" and pushing ourselves.
• I could have written about being worried about how we would get back,
• OR about trusting that things would "work out" just fine, in time!
• I could have written about being frustrated for what we did not do,
• OR about being grateful that we returned home tired but safely in spite of the challenges!

It was a long and not so perfect day in many ways; yet, it was also a perfect day intermingling with diverse people, animals, and falling leaves seeking respite in the magic of a fall afternoon, aware that this would indeed be remembered as a good day, during the cold, dark winter on the horizon.