Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – July 31, 2004

Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – July 31, 2004

An Afternoon Getaway

Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – July 31, 2004 – Okay, okay – did I have a walk with Howard last night? The answer is a resounding “yes” – a two mile jaunt, and I just finished a forty minute work out on my Pilates machine to account for today’s exercise. I have no idea why this is happening – my body seems to have become an entity unto itself these last three days and I’m just along for the ride. It’s going to be interesting to see where this goes!

Its’ now ten thirty in the evening, on the last day of July and I’ve just come back from spending an afternoon in Old Unionville with Big. It takes about twenty minutes to get there from Big’s condo and if I was leaving my house to go directly, about forty-five minutes. It’s a delightful way to spend an afternoon with a friend.

We had a terrific lunch on the main street, in an historic two storey brick building that was probably a family home at one time. It’s a lovely centre hall home with wide pine floors, big rooms and lovely bay windows. If those walls could only talk! The streets are lined with old fashioned light standards that have enormous pots of flowers hanging from each side. The colours are glorious and the plants are in full bloom.

It feels like a vacation resort somewhere in small town America. We spent the early evening wandering around and popping into the little shops and boutiques that run along the street. The proprietors are friendly, talkative and appreciative of our business. What a lovely change from the hectic pace of downtown Toronto, with traffic, noise and the usual sense of urgency that is commonplace in any big city.

I had to leave by about nine o’clock to get back home to look after The Alphabet Boys. Had it not been for that, we could have stayed for the rest of the evening. A band was warming up at the local bandstand and a string quartet was strumming tunes at one of the jam-packed outdoor patios.

People were sitting all along main street, chatting in groups, pushing strollers with sleeping toddlers, eating ice cream cones and walking dogs, big and small. It was a perfect weather evening after a humid afternoon. I was sorry to leave so early.

As we drove back home, we both commented that we should go there more often. It’s close to Toronto but feels like another place and time. The perfect summer getaway, under an hour from home. These are the things I don’t do nearly often enough. Small treats – time with friends – a few hours outside the city – lunch served in a pleasant setting – no need to watch a clock, glance at my pager or check e-mail. How difficult can it be to build some of these days into my life? Up until now it seems, almost impossible but, but as the song says – “The times, they are a changin’.”