Walking. With Huge Decision…Pressure lifted.

Posted on by Live & Learn

January 23rd. 1,358 consecutive (almost) days on my morning walk at Cove Island Park. Like in a row. 

It’s 7:00 am, Sunrise is scheduled for 7:13 am. Of course it’s 7:13 am DK, how would you know it’s 7:13 am with such precision? Well, I asked Siri 3x, and Google 1x, in case the timing of the sunrise changed in the last 30 minutes. Obsessive? Not at all.

I’m 13 minutes away from lift off, and I’m pacing, and pacing. Ted Kooser: “I have used up more than 20,000 days waiting to see what the next would bring.“

12 minutes from lift off. I set the camera and backpack down on the bench. And wait. And pace.

11 minutes from lift off. Clear skies, chance for clear shots of the morning sun.

11 minutes, a freakin’ eternity.

I circle around the rock bluff, Again. And then once more.

And there it is. The discarded poop bag. The same florescent green poop bag that I walked by 3x that week.

And I had to listen to the same scolding voice: Pick it up damn it, pick it up and take it to the trash can. 

And then the same scenario analysis is run:

  • There’s a reason this is here. I can’t see it, but I’ll grab it and there’ll be unmentionables all over my hands. Only this kind of sh*t happens to me.
  • And, then Judgment Day. Hundreds of other locals (and Cara!) passed by this same exact spot and this exact same dog waste – – no time! too busy! didn’t see it! wasn’t mine! – – and these same good people walked away, conscience-free of all wrongdoing. Why am I carrying this weight?
  • Ah, come on DK, pick the damn thing up. Do one for the good of Earth. Take one for the team here.

I bend over, grab the bag with my fingertips, keep it a good distance from my body and hoof it over to the trash can.

7:12 a.m. I wait. Calm now. Massive weight lifted. Feeling lighter after solving global warming and our polluted oceans.

7:13 a.m. Here she comes. 

And just look at that…she’s all beautifully dressed up just for me, in her yellow and orange robes, so grateful for my shoreline clean-up efforts.

What a morning!

DK Photos from morning of January 23, 2024. More photos from that amazing morning sunrise here.

47 thoughts on “Walking. With Huge Decision…Pressure lifted.”

  1. Aaawh….. so worth it! And you are a good boy. Special mention to you for spoiling us with your very own words today. I‘m going to bed with a bursting headache but I wish you the bestest Friday you could wish for!

      1. Following my double eye operation…. I doubt that ice cream helps in that instance! But thanks anyway. It will no doubt get better daily.

    2. Kiki, as soon as I started reading and noticed this was written in DK’s own voice, I thought you will appreciate this post – haha! Hope you’re recovering well!

      1. Laila, I know….. I even wondered if it was my cry of ‚encouragement‘ which made Dave write his own thoughts! He has so much to give – let him share…. 😉

  3. A welcoming morning sun in praise of your depositing the poop bag where it was intended to go and the sun’s confidence in your ability to always show her good side..

  5. Beautiful shot David. Each morning I watch the local news and they have pictures along with the weather forecast. Many of those pictures are of the sunrise and they have been spectacular this winter. The downside has been the lack of snow in Edmonton and most of Alberta. With long-standing drought conditions, this is not good, but I take solace in the beauty nature offers.

    1. Here’s to snow in Alberta. We can’t have a repeat of the Summer of 2023. And nature is one of the few public places offering solace these days. Have a good weekend.

  9. Maybe the amazing part is that we all think the same…. We all do our “little” unnoticed good deed and our world is better for it. I will never admit to you what I’ve cleaned up at that park. That’s between me and “her”. She knows, and so she rewards me. With her beauty and also with the ability to encounter other nature seekers like you DK. And for that, I’m grateful.

  10. I consider myself a good person. This is one thing I wouldn’t do without gloves.

    Per Meatloaf, “I won’t do that!”

    Also, I’m glad you’re picking on others, not just me.

  12. Just a glorious sunrise. Thanks for sharing and also, thanks for the clean up. I find it hard to understand when people only do half the job. I wonder if they flush their toilets or leave it for the next poor soul. Hope the rest of your day was perfect and soil free.

  16. Absolutely stunning picture. Truth be told I was laughing reading your comments leading up to the picture as I could literally see you having this conversation with yourself 😀

Leave a Reply to KikiCancel reply