I punched the code into the garage door box, waited impatiently for it to open, grabbed my bike, shut the door and took off down the North Coast Inland Trail next to our temporary home in Oberlin, Ohio. The sun was shining, humidity was clinging, and birds were singing as I rode westward toward the little town of Kipton.
I passed farm fields, golf courses, rivers and streams, but more interesting, I passed generations of people running, biking, and walking. Some for exercise. Some for peace of mind. After a quick hour out and back, I sat on the front porch drinking water, simply enjoying the moment. Every few minutes, I raised my hand saying “hi” to kids, adults and dogs wandering down the sidewalk to the trail. After a half an hour or so of enjoyable laziness, it struck me—I had said “hi” at least 20 times in that short span of time.
