Stepping Out

My yesterday began with what’s becoming a daily two-mile walk.
Nothing motivates you like the knowledge that you’re supposed to be staying indoors. Still, I promise, there was no interaction unless you count passing once person at a three-foot distance on the sidewalk.

          We then organized ourselves for the day’s first big adventure – a bike ride. We planned to ride through the now almost-deserted downtown Venice, which sounds deceptively urban. It’s actually a ½ mile strip of palm trees bordered by restaurants, tourist shops, and fancy clothing shops. There was only one car in the usually frenetic town parking lot.

          It was already lunchtime, so before exploring the town, we rode our bikes to an area with picnic tables and benches to eat our sandwiches from home. From my bike basket I whipped out my spray bottle of disinfectant and some paper towels and made short work of the table. Just as I was feeling pretty smug, I noticed a couple at a neighboring table was playing chess on a tablecloth.

          After an hour or so enjoying the quiet streets, it was back home for more book reading, crossword puzzling, and newspaper reading.

          Later in the afternoon, the next event – Gas buying and car wash! Mamie bounced to the car, thrilled to be going anywhere. We knew exactly how she felt.  

          A clean car with a full belly, and it was time to pick up our take out dinner to bring home.  

          We’d called ahead for pizza and I probably shouldn’t have been the one elected to pop out of the car and pay. Along with the pizza, I returned with two orders of tiramisu.

          But that’s not all.

          I swear our choice of restaurant was based on a desire to support a favorite restaurant, really, but the bonus they added to the pizza didn’t hurt.