Art On the Move


I was scooting in downtown Lake Oswego, waiting to cross the street.
Art Martin
"Hello Tammy", a fellow pedestrian said.  I was used to being recognized, but it's usually as the anonymous lady on the scooter.  I'm pretty hard to miss, but I rarely hear my name.  Looking up (it's always up), I recognized Art, even though it had been awhile since we spoke.  Even longer since he had rescued me*– 2011 to be precise.  I had naively referred to him then as "elderly" and worried about what my folly would cost him.  He goodnaturedly reminds me of that frequently.  Now here he was, nearly 10 years later, out for his daily walk, healthy, and unchanged by the years.  That'll teach me...There was only 13 years between us.
Old friends
Art invited me to join he and another friend from my early scooting years.  I met John Burns and his wife Audrey in 2011 as well**.  He and Audrey had moved to an Assisted Living facility and I lost contact, but thought about them frequently.  Audrey had died about four years ago and John moved to a facility closer. Art had lunch with him on a regular basis.  
Sharing technology
Art in Iceland.  Latin American architecture

 So, what did I learn from Art about longevity?  Plenty, as it turned out.  He walks the hills of Lake Oswego regularly, knows most of the neighbors by name, and keeps tabs on changes in the 'hood'. Travel is his drug of choice—Iceland, Hawaii, Cuba, Panama, Costa Rica...

 My adventure travel days may be over, but I could certainly make more of an effort to stay in touch with my old friends and new neighbors.  I just needed to learn to not be afraid of people I don't know.  What I considered intrusive, people may view as interest.  Most importantly with the help of Skeeter, I could keep moving.

 The lesson:  Don't be reluctant to reconnect with old friends, say hello to people you encounter, and keep moving!

 *Previous post: Out of Power--Adventure #3
Previous post: The Northwest Scootroute Garden Tour, 4th paragraph

Comments

  1. rv nellyMay 20, 2020 at 3:33 PM

    Good for you!! I have learned these past several months it's very easy to become a hermit!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJune 1, 2020 at 6:59 PM

    Love you tam

    ReplyDelete

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