The worst part about travel is stepping out the door.
And what if _______ or _______ or ________ happens?? (Enter worst nightmares here.)
The closer a trip gets, the more I feel like staying home...
Greetings from the Schuylkill Expressway.
At Mile 13,810, I've never been happier to be speeding toward that Philadelphia skyline.
It's been a tough travel weekend.
I could show you the highlight reel...
...Is this kind.
The kind that settles lightly on car windshields, but leaves the sidewalks bare. The kind that's soft and powdery, like the dust of sugar on cookies.
Like someone decorated the city just for me. (And maybe they did!)
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| GRACIAS :) |
As a solo traveler and above-knee amputee, I'm especially cautious in the winter. I fear snow, ice, wind, and all the hazards that come along with them.
Really, anything could take me down.
And, if I go down, my independence goes down with me. (This gets complicated when you live on your own!)
Snow makes everything more difficult. It lingers in the city, restricting my ability to run errands, step off curbs, and even park my car.
Long after it's clear enough for "most people," snow continues to confine me at home.
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| But not this kind! |
Today the pavement is drying. The puddles in the street are liquid, not ice.
And bonus -- as I start down the sidewalk, a familiar voice calls out my name.
Running into Donna makes even the smallest walk BIG FUN.
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| Go Eagles! Go Flyers! |
Hello from Mile Marker 10,544...
It's a beautiful morning in Philly.
The neighborhood is quiet. A young couple snaps wedding photos in the sunlight. When I walk by Old Christ Church, a choir sings on the breeze.
My new foot feels especially springy.
People smile. Say good morning. Breathe the fresh air.
The humidity has somehow vanished overnight.
Also overnight, my phone tinged with this text message:
2 AM: There was a shooting incident in the vicinity of 4th and South Streets. The Center City ED has received multiple victims. There is significant police presence around the emergency department. The ED is on divert...
Hello from Mile 9,422...
... on Kelly Drive!
It's the most crowded place I've been in a year. But with Rocco and Susan, I feel safe.
That's why we call them my Secret Service :)
Long before the accident, we skated and biked together -- many times on this exact path. We always watched out for each other. Made sure none of us got hurt or left behind.
After my accident, they watched out for me even more...
Mile Marker 8755:
What would you do if you weren't afraid?
Long before this pandemic - and even before Mile 1 -- there was a day I decided to opt outside.
(Of my comfort zone.)
Mile Marker 8460:
