The Lake

A young boy rides past me on his bike. He’s wearing day-glow neon spandex and a red helmet. “I like your dog”, he says.

A family of four strolls by, baby in the stroller and toddler in a wagon. Mom and Dad are wearing matching Crocs.

I can hear the frogs near the edge of the lake. I can’t see them but I know they’re hiding somewhere in the pussywillows.

The lady who dresses her dogs up in outfits is there again today. Opal is sporting a kicky summer dress.

Blonde girl and her dog, Cooper, are running. Cooper would rather mark his territory than run.

The huge, mean-looking, heavily tattooed guy is walking a small maltese and it makes me smile. I wonder if it’s his mom’s dog.

A new guy is running today and he says hi as he passes me. He got dark hair, strong legs and a black iPod. I smile.

There are a bunch of kids playing soccer in the grass and I remember how what an awful soccer player I was as a kid.

A couple sit on a blanket and are drinking champagne. He leans over to kiss her as I walk by and I wonder what they’re celebrating. Maybe she got a new job. Maybe he quit smoking three months ago. Maybe they’re engaged. Maybe they’re pregnant. Maybe it’s just an after-work picnic.

Seven baby ducks follow their mama out of the lake. I watch Barley eye them as though he could use a little snack.

Though it’s 7pm, the sun is still bright and hot. It’s humid out today and I watch the shadow of my ponytail grow larger. I’m thankful Denver gets about 3 humid days a year because I just couldn’t handle any more than that.

The little old couple I see almost everyday smile and wave when they see me. She reaches down and scratches Barley behind the ears. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a dry dog biscuit. They had to put Duke down a few months ago because of his hips but they still walk every day and he still carries biscuits.

The man with the inappropriately short running shorts runs by and I begin to hum “Daisy Dukes” in my head.

A teenage girl sits on a bench chatting on her cell phone. Evidently, she saw Adam kiss another girl at a party and when she asked him about it he was all, “No I didn’t” and she was all, “I totally saw you” and he was all, “Oh.” I have to laugh because I've known some Adams in my day as well.

After three miles, Barley and I head for home. As we near the bridge, New Running Guy passes by me again and smiles.

I do enjoy my trips to the lake.