For the past few Tuesdays I have met a goal of 10,000 steps by noon. I have also gotten up before 5:00 am and gone to the gym…on my day off. This may seem crazy but I really like the 5:30 am barbell class. Soon will be gone these Tuesdays. Next week I will start a new job. Monday through Friday. 8-5. No more weekdays off. Probably no more 10,000 steps by noon. Thankfully, I will still be able to go to the 5:30 am class.

On my walk that late morning that got me to the 10,000 steps I carried no phone. Just me, my Fitbit, my thoughts and the painless clicking of my left knee. No wallet. No ID. At one point I thought maybe the black VW that turned around at the end of the road and was planning to run me into the ditch. Then I would be dead in the ditch with no identification. The black VW did not run me into the ditch but turned onto a side street, driving slowly. I wondered…why turn around at the end of the road? Why drive so slow?

It was a foggy morning and it was cloudy until late afternoon. September nearing has now arrived. It already smells like fall. Sweet smells of overripe berries and fallen fruit along the side of the road. Some leaves are already changing color and falling from the trees. My garden is also falling over, sunflowers tipping onto the fence. Some of them seem to be hanging their heads while others are still smiling. Much of the garden is at its end. A few more potatoes to dig up and the tomatoes will keep going a while longer. The cucumbers are done, beans are done, peppers mostly picked. The pumpkins are turning orange and in many places the weeds have taken over. There are still some beets and the carrots can wait in the ground until I want to eat them. One new thing I have done this year is a second planting of lettuce, arugula and spinach. Hopefully, I will get more than the slugs.

This time of transition from one season to the next has come upon us abruptly this year. Suddenly cool and wet, the darkness is coming and my thoughts wander to Halloween and Thanksgiving. There is still much work to do in the garden and the kitchen to keep the harvest. I find myself wondering if it will stop raining long enough for me to roast the green chiles over charcoal outside. I wonder if I will do better this dark season since I will be going to the gym. Exercise really is a natural antidepressant, but I already miss the sun.