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Willow keeps stride with Daddy

Last fall, I wrote several times about taking Willow on long walks with me.
Depending on the weather (and it was warm throughout the fall and winter), she'd accompany me on walks in the neighborhood and at parks throughout the Midstate (and even went on a walk or two with me at a nearby mall).
She seemed to enjoy the walks and never complained or fussed. She liked seeing the dogs and the ducks and the kids, I think. Sometimes she fell asleep in the stroller (those made for especially long walks for me).
As time passed, I walked farther and faster, and Willow was there every step of the way.
In March, I graduated into running, and I've been Forrest Gump ever since. Even though I was getting better at running (and enjoying it more and more), I think I lost a simple pleasure of these outdoor jaunts: I had stopped taking Willow with me.
I was waking early in the day, sometimes as early as 5:20 a.m., so I could go running "unencumbered" by Willow. I have to admit that the quiet time suited me, but I was awfully tired during the day, so I tried (and rediscovered) taking Willow on my treks.
These jogging strolls are magical, for me and for Willow. I get to explore the area's roads and trails with probably the person I love more than any other in the world (of course I love all the moms in my life, but I'm sorry, ladies, Willow really has my heart). And Willow gets to see her dogs and ducks and kids and butterflies and birds and turtles. She also likes watching the world whirl by under her wheels.
She's not the same kid she used to be, though. Last fall, she couldn't walk or crawl, so the stroller didn't bother her much. Now she's an active little, get-into-anything toddler. She wants to run and climb and fall and giggle and roll. In other words, she can be quite a wriggle-worm in that stroller seat. And I know one day she won't want in that seat at all (unless another kid or little sister is in it).
I also know it's going to get cold in that seat, especially with me running along, head-on into a stiff winter breeze.
But I'm going to enjoy these strolls as long as I can. I'm going to enjoy the fallen leaves crunch under my feet and under Willow's wheels.
Maybe this will grow to be "one of our things." Maybe one day she'll go on runs with me. Or ride a bike along my strides.
That's one of the great things in life, isn't it? Not knowing where we're heading but knowing we'll find some magic, no matter how simple, along the way.

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