Neighborhood Walks

When I’m walking in my neighborhood with my kids and the baby that I keep, I see a lot of people.  I am a friendly, people-person.  When I see someone I say, “hello,” unless they are on the phone or doing something I feel like I would be interrupting.   It is so funny… some people don’t look up when they walk… they look down (I guess they are checking their feet making sure they are getting the exact kind of movement they need).  I freak them out.  I say “hello!” and they are confused and unsure where to look at that point.  The noise gets their eyes off of their feet (their comfort zone.)  They look all around, spot me and the crew and by then they have already passed and they sort of mutter a “uh, oh, hello…”   Some of my walking neighbors are on board with the whole “hello” notion.  They take part in the friendly exchange and seem glad to have someone initiate speech right there on the sidewalk.  They may even throw out a “how are you?” or a “your girls are cute” (of course this is usually followed by a furrowed brow as they try to figure out why two of the children are pale white and one child is brown).  Then there are those that are just into their walk (or run).  It is a workout and my “hello” is not going to stop them for even a second…. I mean, they have a heart rate to think of here. One glance that slows the pace could ruin the whole work out…. now, these dedicated folks just let that “hello” roll right off their back and keep going. By now the regulars who also walk in my neighborhood have gotten used to me and even raise their heads and say “hello” back to me.  I still throw yard men for a loop when I say hello to them but …. It’s a process.