Another day without a hike

Cornwall Rose Garden #1

I didn't go out with the Senior Trailblazers again today. I just couldn't get myself excited about a two-hour drive to hike somewhere I've suffered through in the heat during past years. It was a trip to Watson Lakes, which I last did in 2018. You can see what the trip was like then at the link here. Once I read it and reminded myself that it's very hot and sunny today, I decided to skip it. Again. That's two Thursdays in a row, and I guess without Melanie to take me on some of our old favorites, I'm in danger of turning into a regular old person, not going out on a hike every week.

Cornwall Rose Garden #2

Instead, I just made my usual walk from the Rose Garden and took pictures of the pretty flowers. Instead of my usual step count on Thursday, I'm lucky I have garnered 9,500 for the day (about 3-5,000 less than usual for a Thursday). And here it is, late in the afternoon, and I'm already feeling tired enough to think about how nice it will feel to get horizontal.

Yesterday, I went to see Oppenheimer with my friend John. It was a disappointment, not because the movie wasn't really pretty good, but the sound was so loud that the words were all distorted and it was already a very difficult story to follow. I complained about the volume, but the theater only gave me some headphones to wear, which helped somewhat, but not enough. My hearing aides were turned all the way down, but still. And for three hours, John and I suffered through the ordeal, not happy at all about seeing the movie. I had seen Barbie in the same theater last week, and it was fine, so it was something that could have been remedied. I don't think I'll be going back to that theater any more.

That said, the second half of the movie was better, since I did begin to follow the story, and afterwards I looked up the accuracy to find out if all the events were true ones, and sure enough, it was quite true. I didn't realize that Oppenheimer had been pilloried so badly after having invented the atomic bomb and having regrets about the incredible loss of life in Japan. It was a very sad story, and here we are still living with the threat of nuclear war every day. It was well done but not uplifting at all.

Cornwall Rose Garden #3

So, on that note, I will need to find something that will raise my spirits, which looking at these pictures of pretty roses does somewhat. And I think I need to find a good quote. How about some good old brainyquotes?

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. —Helen Keller

Or this:

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. —Joseph Campbell

I especially need to listen to Joseph, and remember that when I'm needing a lift. And yes, I'm feeling better! I hope you are finding your own path to navigate the shoals of life, and finding a way to enjoy the inevitable ups and downs.

:-)