So I can’t pick football games.

I was 5 winners and 5 losers yesterday with my college football picks.  Same result as last week.  Worst efforts ever.  But alas, I will try again next week.

I was delighted to Ole Miss beat Kentucky.  One point is all it takes to win.  And by the way, Georgia looks like number one to me.  My apologies to Brother Tim Petty and his Bama crew.  Clemson would be third or fourth place in the SEC.  I don’t usually purport such a thing.  But then again, what the heck do I know?  I picked UK to beat Ole Miss.

So I can’t pick football games.  I can walk.  And that I did today.  6.21 miles worth.

I needed it and it felt good.  Just hope it feels as good in the morning.

This was part of the path.

Last year, on October 2nd, as I was pulling out of the school parking lot it was this hot in Ramsey, Indiana…

As I sit here this evening before the sun has gone down on October 4th, it is an autumn like 56 degrees.  As the photos indicate, it has been cloudy today.

I have walked around Walden Pond on three occasions.  Today, I focused on the nature around me and took a few extra deep breaths and it wasn’t Walden Pond but it was pretty nice.

New mown hay is an Indiana tradition.  You’ve heard the song before the Indy 500, haven’t you?

The old bailed hay.

Rest assured I know how fortunate I am to be able to walk this path in seclusion and anonymity.  I think I saw five cars pass during my walk.

I have not sat down to watch pro football.  I might catch the end of the Colts game here in a minute.  They are playing the Bears in Chicago.

No, I am not one of those who won’t watch football for political reasons.  If that were the case, I would have stopped watching long ago.  Capitalism is a byproduct of politics I suppose.  It sure costs a great deal of geat to go to a game these days.  Same with concert tickets.  Don’t get me started.  I don’t blame a game for the way people feel.  I still enjoy watching sports. If you want to turn off the games, do it.  Just don’t blow off about it on social media.  No, I guess that is asking too much.  I forget sometimes.

As I walked I thought of a great many folk.  I thought about Uncle Roger and how it has been too long since he heard from me or I have heard from him.  He is a writer for sure.

I thought about Bart Bigham and how he too appreciates Henry David Thoreau.  The time I got to spend in Bart Bigham’s classroom, whether it was shooting the breeze, solving the world’s problems, talking about music, or having literary speaks, it was an honor to be in the room with him.  I am humbled that he gave me the chance to hold forth with his students on occasion, as he knows I still enjoy talking to students about writing and writers.

For the most part I just walked and took it all in.  When a six mile walk goes by too quickly you know for sure you have had a blessed day.

Not unlike on this day 35 years ago when I kicked a 38 yard field goal against Clarksville.  Revisionist history may not let you know about it.  I don’t mind.  I was there.

I have said it before and I will say it again.  Take care of each other.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson