Lala Dinsmore

Walking has helped me muddle through many moods, problems and events. Many years ago when I was teaching, I'd take a quick walk through the woods to help me vent feelings I had about certain kids in certain classes. It was hard not to "take home" my teaching challenges or even triumphs, so walking helped me get it out of my system, so to speak. I loved teaching most of the time, but there were always some students and certain classes who faced me with real problems. I ...Walking has helped me muddle through many moods, problems and events. Many years ago when I was teaching, I'd take a quick walk through the woods to help me vent feelings I had about certain kids in certain classes. It was hard not to "take home" my teaching challenges or even triumphs, so walking helped me get it out of my system, so to speak. I loved teaching most of the time, but there were always some students and certain classes who faced me with real problems. I know now that I was always "too easy". I was dumb enough to think that if you were polite and understanding, students would of course react in the same way. I learned quickly, however, that it didn't always work, even with the "brighter" ones. So walking things out every afternoon before my own family arrived, saved them from some "bringing home the problems" by mom.

Walking as one progresses in age is another great plus. Take the other lovely late summer's night, for instance. It was twilight and I was walking down my North Road, toward Gorham. Not a car passed and it was very still. Suddenly and quietly, about 100 feet in front of me, a mother bear and two cubs gingerly crossed the road. They were looking straight ahead it seems and were intent on just crossing the road. What a treat to see a bear family, especially safely down the road from me!