After yesterday's whine-a-rama about scary drivers, it seems appropriate to talk the talk about walking the walk. By way of full disclosure, I must mention that after yesterday's diatribe about how awful other drivers are, I pulled out right smack dab in front of an oncoming car. That driver, rightly, leaned on the horn. So, I start the day taking other drivers to task and, hours later, almost cause an accident. That's "car"-ma. So, today, I'm taking this bloggerania out from behind the wheel, entirely.

Today, Wednesday October 3, is International Walk Your Child To School Day. It is intended to promote the health benefits of walking and encourage a little early morning family togetherness. A few years ago, when we moved from one house to another, I was told, forcefully, that one of the major reasons...maybe, even the main reason...was so that the kids could all walk to school. We've been in the house for about six years now and I think the kids have actually walked to school, on average, once a year. Okay. That maybe a little bit of an exaggeration. The reason given for not walking in the morning has to do with how early they head out and how dark it is many days of the year. Although, our older boys confessed to an unnatural fear of dew. "Our shoesies," said the high-schoolers, "get all soggy!" To be fair, the kids do tend to walk home from school fairly often. Occasionally, Harrison, the youngest, will call home and ask that a car be sent around. Every now and then, he thinks he's Blake Carrington from Dynasty.

In my day...at this point, you have to imagine me leaning way back in my rocking chair, taking a puff on my corn-cob pipe, clearing my throat and fixing you with a wise and knowing look...I walked to school and home again...each and every day! In kindergarten we lived out in the country and I took a bus but from first through 12th grades, I used my feet. I would stop at the Wilkinson house, three doors down, and pick up my friend, Keith and off we'd go. I've mentioned this house before. The Wilkinsons had lots of kids. In fact, in my town, if you had four children, like us, that was a small family. I don't think I ever got an accurate head-count of the Wilkinsons as I stood in the kitchen waiting for Keith. I know there were bodies flying all over the place. Mrs. Wilkinson was always in a chipper mood...fazed by nothing. Eventually, Keith would come rumbling toward the door. As I mentioned, we walked everyday. All the way through high school. Neither one of us had any inclination toward driving to school, even after getting our licenses. We walked through rain and snow and ice and sleet. We should've been delivering the mail.

There have been mornings, when I'm on vacation or get home early enough, that I walk to school with whichever kid is in grade school. I've learned a lot on those walks. Not any big bombshells...just details. Harrison, in particular, will use the time to fabricate amazing stories of intrigue and adventure involving aliens, dinosaurs and, often, Jack Nicholson or James Cagney. He can tell a tale that will last the whole trek from home to school. One of the other children, who shall remain nameless, would sometimes use the very last few steps of the walk to say "Oh, I'll be late getting home tonight because of this little detention thing. Okay. Love you. Bye."

I hope lots of folks get the chance to walk to school with their kids today and all month...maybe all school year. It is time well-spent. Oh, it is also National Vegetarian Awareness Month so, kill two birds with one stone and walk your child to school while carrying a zucchini. (Okay. Okay. I know, a zucchini is really, biologically-speaking, an immature fruit but it sounded funnier than saying "while carrying a carrot.")