3.16km …. My daily walk
I live in a suburb that once was beautiful. Now, parts of it – including where I live – is a nightmare to negotiate thanks to it being rezoned for mixed use.
I walk into the nicer part of this neighboring suburb. Takes me back to a time when my own living area was this nice too.
The nearly 1km stretch – leaving my suburb – is an uphill climb. I used to walk it with ease up until a few years ago. Not anymore. The vehicles lining the stretch, the traffic on the street, not to mention the uphill gradient, make it the worst part of my walk. I try not to dwell on that part.
Then comes crossing the main drag separating the two suburbs. It’s a challenge. I negotiate it with care.
I enter into the still-lovely – in these times – area with its tree-lined ‘main roads’ and ‘cross streets’. For a 2+km walk. The streets are a clean grid with leaves and flowers from the trees at their edges. There are a few cars – mostly high-end – parked on the streets. The houses are tastefully built, covered with greenery – a testament to how long they’ve been standing.
Some homes have a security guard standing vigil. Others have dogs running around in home gardens. A few are walked by residents. There are hardly any strays on the roads.
There is a sprinkling of laundrymen at street corners, standing at their carts and pressing clothes with irons fuelled by compact gas cylinders.
The neighborhood has two parks, one for children and the other, lush green for adults, mostly seniors. One stretch of road with aesthetic homes, quiet, hardly any traffic – people or vehicles – is pleasing on the eye and also the mind.
Its a neighborhood cared for by its citizens, originally defense personnel, past and present or their relatives.
Morning walks see greying seniors also on their stroll. A greeting from a stranger leaves a pleasant feeling. A laundryman joins in too. Evening walks see mosquito repellant being sprayed in the area.
I remember my childhood in my very own suburb.
It was safe with mostly foot traffic. We children played on the streets. Rode our bicycles and later on 2-wheelers – the Luna – on them. Adults came out, stood with one another, talking for hours on end.
I miss that quietness, the camaraderie between neighbors. It’s now made way for office spaces and restaurants. Can’t think of even sitting on the balcony with a mug of coffee and a book. All privacy gone. Traffic on the streets, from early morning, late into the night.
I so look forward to my walk in the neighborhood over, that I’m disappointed if I miss it.
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