Hubby carpools with my brother-in-law to work several days/week when their schedules permit, and on those days our van stays at the park-n-ride just a scant 5 miles from the house.  On other days the carpool only includes a one-way ride to work.  On those days hubby either has to drive alone just so he’ll have a vehicle to get home, or – if I have errands to do in town – I take him to the park-n-ride where he hitches a ride with brother-in-law.  Then I go into town later, do my errands, and pick up hubby after work.

This is how we currently function with one vehicle, living 50 miles outside town.  It works nicely except that brother-in-law is planning to move into town soon.  Until then, I often find myself at the park-n-ride alone in the cool of the morning.  On those days, I take time to read my Bible before heading home.  It’s a quiet, peaceful time, and I enjoy it.

Last Friday, on just such a day, I read my Bible and headed home.  As I passed lush patches of wildflowers on the winding country road, I decided to stop for a walk on the way home.  My midwife and husband have both been after me to exercise, and this was the perfect day.  The kids wouldn’t even miss me – they would doubtless assume I drove up to the post office to check the mail, or spent a little extra time reading my Bible.

I used the odometer to measure a nice level 1/2 mile stretch with a good show of flowers, then pulled over.  I locked the van and struck out on foot.  It was quiet and lovely, just as I had anticipated.  I picked samples of wildflowers that were new to me, to take home and identify with the help of the children.  I saw several whitetail deer cross the road just ahead of me.  I spotted 3 smallish hares – cottontails, or half-grown jack rabbits.  I’m a little embarrassed that I couldn’t tell the difference.  They were just a few feet away, crouching and hoping I wouldn’t see them, so I had a good long look at them as I passed.

I reached the half-mile point I had measured and headed back, feeling surprisingly good.  This would be an easy mile.  Maybe I don’t hate exercise as much as I profess.

I was almost back to the van when I saw my mom coming in her red Expedition.  I waved and smiled.  She pulled over and rolled her window down.

“Where were you?!  What were you doing?  Do you know what I thought when I saw your van parked and locked and you nowhere around?  I called your girls and they didn’t know where you were. I went back to your house to get Kaitlyn to make sure it was your van.  I called Perry at work and he had no idea.  I knocked on doors, and nobody had seen you.”

I laughed weakly.  ”Sorry I worried you.  I was exercising.  You, uh, called Perry at work?  I’ll call him as soon as I get home.”

Kaitlyn popped out of Mom’s Expedition, giving me disapproving looks, and we walked over to the van as Mom drove away.   I asked Kaitlyn, “Didn’t it occur to anyone that I might be exercising?  Like everyone else in the extended family does on this very road?”

She snorted derisively, then gave me a long measured look as though it just occurred to her that I might actually be serious.  ”YOU?”

I guess this means I need to exercise a little more often.